With a view to pulling the veil back on the hows and whys of their operations, a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN.If you have any questions you'd like to ask HISA or HIWU, please feel free to send them over to us at the following email address: danross@thetdn.com Q: A trainer (who asked not to be publicly named) has contacted the TDN with a story of a horse he was forced to scratch the morning of a race because the blood test sample results taken after a vet's list workout weren't returned within HIWU's own reporting timeline guidelines. The horse worked at Churchill Downs to get off the vet's list on Friday May 15, and the blood sample was taken at roughly 9am that morning. The horse was entered to run on Monday, May 25th. A 10-day window. The trainer, however, was notified on the morning of the 25th that he couldn't run the horse because the blood sample results still weren't in. When the trainer subsequently called HIWU, he was told by an agency representative that the sample must be processed within 5 days of the sample being taken, and that the trainer must be notified within 72 hours of the results being known (in other words, the trainer must be notified within 8 days of the sample being taken). A HIWU fact sheet details a different set of reporting timelines. It states that a negative vets' list sample result should be “reported w/in 5 business days of lab receipt of sample,” and a positive test “reported w/in 10 business days of lab receipt of sample.” Either way, it appears as though the trainer in this case should have been notified before the 25th (of the test results taken on the 15th). What are the reasons for any such reporting delay? And are there any consequences for HIWU failing to adhere to these reporting guidelines? For example, can the horse's owners seek compensation for the not-insignificant expenses involved with a scratch under these circumstances? HIWU executive director Ben Mosier:HIWU is always monitoring the turnaround times of our Program laboratories to make sure that they meet their contractual requirements. Even though Vets' List samples at Churchill Downs were collected the morning of Friday, May 15, all other samples collected that day, including Post-Race, TCO2, Out-of-Competition, etc. were held in a secure location in Churchill Downs' test barn until being shipped to EQIAS Labs in Lexington, Kentucky with other samples collected that weekend; they arrived at the laboratory on Monday, May 18. The samples were held because the laboratory does not accept samples during weekend hours.We understand that this trainer had a frustrating experience with the HISA/HIWU support line. HIWU has been consistent in our messaging about turnaround times for Vets' List results and will continue to prioritize ensuring that correct information is being relayed to horsemen in an efficient manner.Negative Vets' List results must be reported to HIWU within five business days of EQIAS' receipt of the sample. Business days are defined as weekdays and do not include weekends and holidays. Since many shipments do not arrive at laboratories at a consistent time on any given day, the first business day following receipt starts the clock toward five business days. The schedule is similar to how stand-down times are calculated for intra-articular injections.In this case, the deadline for the laboratory to report a negative result to HIWU was Tuesday, May 26 due to laboratory closures on Memorial Day.Horsemen should be aware that if a Vets' List sample requires further analysis to confirm that there has been a positive test, results may take longer to be reported.Historically, HIWU has sent notices through the HISA portal in advance of laboratory closures due to national holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day to advise horsemen to allow extra time for Vets' List results, and HIWU's Results Management team aims to report any results received right before holidays. We will increase the frequency of these kinds of notices so that horsemen can be better prepared to make sure their horses are released from the Vets' List in time for intended starts.HIWU has seen improved laboratory turnaround times every year since the launch of the ADMC Program. In 2025, the average turnaround time for a negative Vets' List result was 4.5 business days from the date that the laboratory received the sample (with the clock starting the first full business day after the sample arrives). This year's trends so far show continued improvement.Overall, in 2026, nearly 98% of negative Vets' List results have been reported to HIWU within five business days of the laboratory's receipt of the sample. This has been possible due to HIWU's collaboration with Program laboratories and regulatory veterinarians to prioritize the reporting of Vets' List results; we recognize the importance of reporting these results in a timely fashion.Typically, the few exceptions have occurred because additional confirmatory analysis was required after the initial screening.Horsemen may reach out to HIWU staff by email at results@hiwu.org if they are waiting on a specific test result or if they want to confirm an expected turnaround time for a pending sample. While Program laboratories are allowed to request an extension to report results (subject to HIWU's approval), turnaround time requirements are as follows: Post-Race: 10 business days from the date the Program laboratory receives the sample.B Sample: 15 business days from the date the Program laboratory receives the sample.Vets' List (Negative results): 5 business days from the date the Program laboratory receives the sample. More information about Vets' List workout testing and general results management procedures can be found on the HIWU website: Frequently Asked Questions: Results Management Vets' List Workouts Versus Routine Workouts Under the ADMC ProgramThe post Ask HIWU: Vet’s List Testing Turnaround Times appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.