COLLECTION & TRANSPORTATION OF SPECIMENS

Here are few guidelines for those attached with veterinary practice specially poultry. Sticking to these guidelines can enhance their skill and performance.

Collection of blood samples

1. Restrain the bird properly.
2. Expose the wing vein, clean it with antiseptic.
3. Prick needle in the vein properly.
4. Smoothly take the blood in syringe.
5. Pull the plunger back to create a free space in the syringe.
6. Make a slant and keep the syringe undisturbed for 30-45 minutes so that blood can be clotted and serum be separated.

Collection of serum sample

1. When the blood clots in the syringe and the serum must be separated.
2. Take serum in the aliquot, taking care of that no shreds of blood clot should be in the serum.
3. Tightly close the lid of aliquot.
4. Precautionary pack and label the samples.

Collection of tracheal swab

1. Restrain the bird properly.
2. Open beak of the bird.
3. Open the sterilized swab and take a deep sample by inserting swab in the pharynx.
4. Close the swab tube, properly label and pack it.

Collection of cloacal swab

1. Restrain the bird properly.
2. Locate cloaca of the bird.
3. Open the sterilized swab and take a deep sample by inserting swab in the cloaca.
4. Close the swab tube, properly label and pack it.

Collection of tissue sample

1. Open the bird on a clean surface.
2. Take the trachea, lungs, liver, spleen and properly pack the sample in a plastic sticking bag.
3. Properly label sample

Transportation of Samples

1. The entire sample including serum, swabs, and tissues should be transported at 4ºC.
2. The cooler can be used for transportation by adding ice.
3. Tissue sample should be freeze before transportation.
4. Tissue, serum, cloacal & tracheal swab can also be preserved at freezing condition.

Note: Swab sample can be taken and transported only after adding transport medium.
Normal saline with antibiotic (Penicillin, Streptomycin, and Gentamycin) can also be used as transport medium.