Please note that our ability to successfully diagnose a plant problem declines as soon as the sample is taken out of the environment in which the problem occurred. Samples left for multiple days begin to deteriorate, which can make diagnosis difficult. Therefore, it is recommended that samples be brought in during Tuesday's regular clinic hours.

Anyone bringing commercial samples to the center when the clinic is not in operation are asked to complete the Commercial Plant Diagnostic Clinic Form on a self-service basis, and leave the form with each sample. Self-service samples will be held until the next regularly scheduled clinic. When filling out the form, please give as much information about symptoms and cultural practices, in addition to what chemicals and/or fertilizers have been applied recently. In most cases, diagnosis will be made within one week, unless the identification procedure is more complex.

Each problem sample submitted to the clinic must be accompanied by a completed Commercial Plant Diagnostic Clinic Form which can be obtained at the clinic or online (Submit Your Sample). Problems that can be properly diagnosed visually from symptoms and background information supplied from the form will be handled during clinic hours. When additional diagnostic procedures are required (such as virus, disease culturing or complete soil analysis) the sample will need to be sent to Gainesville for further analysis, and the client will need to provide a $40 check made out to the University of Florida.