Life Technologies

5 Life Technologies | Animal Health Sampling technique 1. Place a mouth gate or wedge between the teeth of the upper and the lower jaw in order to have the mouth wide open; take care of your hand and fingers since pigs will bite immediately when the device is not placed and adjusted properly. 2. Carefully insert the spatula and take a scraping from both pharyngeal tonsils; or, remove the cover from a swab, insert the swab into the trachea, and swab the surface of the trachea. 3. Slowly remove the device and place the tip in a designated tube. 4. Label the tube 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 doubts about the actual regulations, please ask your courier or the lab. The sample should be accompanied by a case history and examination form, including: • Name of veterinarian • Name of farmer/herd owner • Invoicing information • Species/breed and age of sampled animals • Date samples were taken • Number of samples

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