Life Technologies

5 Life Technologies | Animal Health Sampling technique 1. Restrain the pig. Use an iron snare if needed. Pay attention to the correct positioning of the snare, which should be always beyond the first premolars. 2. Clean the nose with a dry piece of paper. 3. Push the swab deep into the ventral passage of the nose and leave it in this position for 3 seconds; to avoid bleeding, do not injure the nasal conchae by applying too much pressure. 4. Rotate the swab one third around the central axis and leave it again for 3 seconds. 5. Again rotate the swab one third around the central axis and leave it for 3 seconds. NOTE: Steps 4 and 5 significantly increase the amount of material captured by the swab and thereby the diagnostic sensitivity of the whole method. 6. Place the swab in the appropriate container. 7. Label the container immediately with the animal ID (ear tag number) using a waterproof marker. Write numbers and letters clearly according to good clinical practice (e.g., 5 not 5 ). Storage The sample should be stored in a refrigerator until shipment to the laboratory, which should be within 24–36 hours. If this is not possible and only PCR is required, freeze the sample at –20 to –80°C. Keep in mind that no further cultural examination is possible after freezing a sample. Shipment Material from diseased animals is usually classified as "Biological substance, category B" according to UN regulations (UN 3373). It must be shipped in compliance with national regulations and, at least for international shipment, in compliance with "Packing Instruction 650" specified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). National regulations and IATA instructions may change over time. If you have

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