BLOOD SAMPLES (PICTURE A):
 Take enough blood from each bird to fill bullet tubes ¾ full
 Use larger tubes if more than 6 tests are requested on each sample
 Leave samples at room temperature until submitted to the lab; can be
overnight
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A
After the serum separates, the samples can be refrigerated
Do not let samples overheat or freeze.
Bring to the lab within 24 hours or ASAP
If samples are held more than 2 days, please pour the serum from
each sample into another tube and keep refrigerated or frozen.
NEVER SUBMIT BLOOD IN SYRINGES
DO NOT LEAVE BLADES WITH THE SAMPLES; Always submit used blades in sharps container
B
TRACHEAL OR CHOANAL SWABS (PICTURES B,C):
 Take a representative sample from birds throughout the house
 Use a sterile dry swab, or culturette (wet swab). Use dry swabs for virus detection
(AI, IBV)
 Take a choanal swab: gently swab the opening in the roof of the mouth of the
chicken (see picture); OR tracheal samples can be taken if personnel trained and
reliable
C
 Put the swab back in sleeve or plastic tube; Put all swabs in a plastic bag and close
completely; Do not leave bag open so samples don’t lose their identity.
 Keep samples cold but not frozen. Submit ASAP.
 Swabs for AI (auction samples for example) should be placed in BHI media after
collection. Each sample is twirled in the media and removed. Pool up to 5 swabs per tube. Freeze immediately.
 MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE MOVE DATE ON SAMPLE IF APPLICABLE
BIRDS:
 For bursal monitoring, worm checks, cocci checks, pick up 3-7 random birds
 For disease diagnosis, select birds showing signs of disease; If the problem is mortality, submit fresh dead birds
and sick birds, if possible; If problem is egg production drop, submit hens out of production
If VLT is suspected in birds, euthanize chickens humanely in the farm, then place in triple bag(s). Tie the
top(s) with a knot and spray the outside of the bag with disinfectant before leaving the farm. Never
bring VLT suspects to the lab alive.
 Place live birds in boxes where there is plenty of room for them (do not overcrowd them); Cut large enough
holes in the boxes to give all birds adequate ventilation. Never tie birds by the legs or cross their wings
 Place dead birds in a triple plastic bag and close with knot.
D
FRESH ORGANS (PICTURE D):
 Submit fresh organs in Ziploc plastic bags or whirl pak bags; send only representative
tissues, NOT bag-full of multiple organs. Do not mix intestinal organs and others. Close
bag tightly.
 Virus detection samples must be shipped on chill packs frozen
DRAG, BOOT, or DUST SWABS (PICTURE E):
 Swabs for Salmonella should be in Whirl Pak bags and closed tightly.
 ONE drag or dust swab per bag. If you submit more than 1, label A,B,C…
E
 Make sure the outside of those bags is wiped clean
LITTER, DUST, or FEED:
 For Salmonella testing, fill Whirlpak bag about 1/3 -1/2 full
 For feed analysis, we need a disposable plastic boot full of feed.
CHICK PAPERS (PICTURE F):
 Submit papers (usually 10) in a clean trash bag; Close bag. Label the outside of
the bag. Leave paperwork outside of the bag.
F
 If you swab the paper yourself, submit the same way as a drag swab in a
Whirlpak bag
FORMALIN JARS (PICTURE G):
 The volume of tissue to formalin in a jar should not exceed one to ten. Close
the jar tightly; Place the jar in a plastic bag and close.
G
EGGS: Always submit eggs in flats.
WATER: Use a sterile plastic tube to collect water; Wipe tube clean
CHICKS: (PICTURES H,I)
LIVE: Place chicks in paper bags large enough to accommodate 10/bag
 For breeder chicks, leave in delivery boxes
 Make sure chicks are comfortable on the way to the lab. USE FORMS
072 or 076
H
DEAD: Place 10 recently euthanized chicks in a gallon size Ziploc bag
 LABEL BAG WITH COMPANY, FLOCK NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFIER
 Place ice packs in bottom of cooler and bags of chicks layers on top of
the packs inside the cooler. USE FORMS 072 or 076
LABELING SAMPLES: LABEL ALL SAMPLES WITH COMPANY and Farm NAME,
House #
SUBMISSION FORMS:
I
For all samples except chicks (where either 072 or 076 are used), use FORM 072 and fill
as much information as possible. Required fields are: DATE, COMPANY, FARM,
SPECIMEN SUBMITTED, REASON FOR SUBMISSION, SUBMITTED BY, AGE, TESTS
REQUESTED
Stickers (FORMS 211 or 212) can also be used for submitting samples (except for chicks)
SHIPPING SAMPLES: Place all labeled and secured samples in a Styrofoam box along with packing material and ice packs.
Place samples of the same type in a larger secondary plastic bag. Place paperwork it its own bag and on top of samples,
NOT OUTSIDE THE STYROFOAM BOX. The Styrofoam box should be inside a cardboard box for shipping, and an overnight
service should be used.
OVERNIGHT DROP: Please contact one of us at the numbers below to arrange for after hours samples
drop. -6948
Thanks for using GPLN! GLLE: 770-535-5996
FORSYTH: 478-994-1219
GAINESVILLE: 770-766-6810
FORSYTH 478-994-1219
TIFTON: 970-420-4155, 770-540-6948