Veterinary Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis-II

DESPATCH OF SPECIMENS

• The primary concern in the transport of specimen to the nearby laboratory is to maintain the sample as near its original state as possible  with minimum deterioration and to minimize the hazards.
• Adverse environmental conditions such as exposure to cold and heat, change in pressure, extreme drying should be avoided. If any delay is expected before the specimen is processed, it is generally preferable to freeze the specimen at -70ºC.
• The specimen should be properly packed and sent under refrigeration, should be preferably through a thermoflask or thermocool box . Proper labeling is important .The specimens must be secured (without any leak or break) and packed before despatch. They should be delivered within 48 hrs.
• Any material before being sent to laboratory for identification, it is always better to get the consent of the laboratory. In case of shipment to foreign countries import permit from the authority of the laboratory. This import permit is called as import license. The permit or license should be placed in an envelope and pasted on out side of the parcel.

Information to be sent along with sample

• Information and case history should always accompany the samples to the lab. This should be placed in a water proof plastic envelope outside the container. While writing details, it should be written in waterproof material
• The following informations are mandatory
  • Name and address of the owner with telephone and fax number.
  • Name, postal ,telephone, fax, E-mail address of the senders.
  • Disease suspected & diagnostic test requested.
  • Species, breed, age, sex and identity of the animal.
  • Date of sample collection and submission.
  • List of samples submitted and transported.
  • History of the condition with following points
    • List of animals examined and PM findings
    • Length of time of sick animals have been in the farm. If they are recent animals, state the origin.
    • The date of report of 1^st case and subsequent cases previous occurrences and results provided by the lab.
    • Description of spread of infection in the herd.
    • Number of animals in the farm, number died, number showing clinical signs, age, sex and breed.
    • Clinical signs observed and duration.
    • Type of husbandry followed including feeding practices and feed given.
    • Treatment given.
    • Vaccination status.
    • Other information considered necessary by Veterinarians