Page 65 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

34 Susan C. Cork, Roy Halliwell and Willy Schauwers

Sample submission, preservation and In most cases, a full clinical examination
communication with the laboratory requires close inspection and therefore it would
be advisable to learn as much as possible about
Examples of sample submission forms are given animal behaviour and handling. Good clinical
in Appendices A2. Check also Chapter 8 for fur- practice and the collection of good quality sam-
ther details on their use. It is important to supply ples requires training and experience. Figures
as much information as possible on the submis- 1.9–1.32 illustrate some aspects of clinical exam-
sion form. The layout of the submission form ination, restraint and sample collection. More
should allow for addition of any further relevant information can be found in the bibliography
information. The laboratory service should pro- given at the end of the chapter.
vide forms that are easy to use. These will usually
include epidemiological as well as case specific General guidelines for submitting
data. In many cases one style of submission form samples to the laboratory
may not be ideally suited to all situations and
for certain disease investigations, or for surveil- 1 Always provide as much information as pos-
lance programmes, the laboratory staff will need sible on the submission form(s).
to design a project specific form. The name, work 2 Take a wide selection of samples unless it is
address and telephone number of the submit- clearly evident what specific disease is pres-
ting animal health professional should always be ent. Specific guidelines for collecting samples
included to ensure that the results of any labo- for selected clinical cases are given in Chapter
ratory tests are sent back to the correct person. 10.
The collection of blood samples requires 3 Inform the laboratory that samples are to be
experience, and good restraint of animals is sent and dispatch them to the laboratory as
essential (see Figures 1.18b, c and d, 1.27). Do quickly as possible using appropriate packag-
not try to collect samples from animals that are ing.
likely to become aggressive or difficult to handle 4 Sample preservation will be required where
unless appropriate facilities and experienced there will be a delay in testing. (For details
staff are available. see in specific chapters and the summary box.)
For faecal samples, it may be possible to
collect freshly voided material passed by the
animal you are interested in sampling, however, Sample preservation
for some tests a rectal sample may be preferred.
Fresh faecal samples collected from the ground Microbiology samples and faecal samples
are usually suitable for parasitological and for parasitology may be stored in the refrig-
biochemical testing but are not ideal for micro- erator if there is going to be a delay before
biological testing. examination. If it is not possible to send
Urine samples, usually mid-stream, can be parasitology samples within a day or so,
collected readily from some animals but ner- add a fixative (10% formal saline or 70%
vous animals may urinate when approached and alcohol) to prevent parasite eggs hatching
therefore such animals may need to be yarded and subsequent larval development. Tissue
and sampled later. samples for microbiology may be stored
Collection of skin scrapings, milk samples in the freezer for some virus examina-
and wound swabs will usually require restraint tion procedures but this may kill bacterial
of the animal.

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