D I AG NOSTIC SA M P L IN G
5 DISEASE-SPECIFIC GUIDE TO SAMPLE COLLECTION
Not all sampling types and test methods are applicable to all diseases. When in doubt, call the laboratory for
guidance.
SP EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
African horse sickness
Equine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
(including zebra) Serum Red top tube (10 ml) Ames
Whole blood Purple top tube (10ml) (preferred)
Green top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: spleen, lymph node, lung, Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
liver or screw-cap plastic tubes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
African swine fever
Swine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Tonsil scraping Sterile tube FADDL
Whole blood Green top tube (10ml)
(for virus isolation)
Serum Red top tube
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissues: spleen, tonsil, gastrohepatic, Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
renal, and inguinal lymph nodes or screw-cap plastic tubes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Aino and Akabane1
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Ovine Serum from fetus or neonate Red top tube ( 2–5 ml minimum) Ames
Caprine
Serum from dam Red top tube ( 2–5 ml minimum)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: placenta, fetal muscle, and Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
nervous tissue or screw-cap plastic tubes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Virus isolation, PCR, and serology are done at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) Ames.
1
PCR and serology are done at NVSL FADDL.
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DIAG N OSTI C SA M PL I N G
S P EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Bluetongue & Epizootic hemorrhagic disease2,3
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Ovine Serum Red top tube (5 ml minimum) Ames
Caprine FADDL
Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml)
(preferred for PCR)
(only sample for FADDL testing)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: spleen, liver, lung, lymph node Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
or screw-cap plastic tubes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Blue eye paramyxovirus
Swine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Nasal swab Dacron®/polyester swab in TBTB Ames
(max 3 ml)
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: brain, spinal cord, lung, tonsil, Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
reproductive tissues from sexually mature or screw-cap plastic tubes
animals
Set of fxed tissues: brain, spinal cord, Formalin (10:1)
lung, tonsil, spleen
Bovine babesiosis
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml) Ames
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine DECEASED ANIMALS NAHLN
Minimum for surveillance: fresh obex 50 ml tube, Whirl-Pak®, or Ziploc® bag or
For clinical suspects: K brain collected NVSL
fresh and the other K collected in Ames
formalin
Fresh tissue: K brain Formalin (10:1)
If rabies is on your differential diagnosis, sample must be rabies-negative before testing
for BSE—check with your state public health laboratory for sample specs for rabies.
Virus isolation and serology are done at NVSL Ames. PCR is done at FADDL (EDTA blood).
2
Testing for BT/EHD at FADDL is limited to using EDTA blood.
3
4-5
D I AG NOSTIC SA M P L IN G
SP EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Classical swine fever
Swine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Dacron®/polyester swab: oral/tonsil TBTB (3 ml) FADDL
Tonsil scraping Sterile tube
Whole blood Green top tube (10ml)
(for virus isolation)
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: tonsil, spleen, retropha- Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
ryngeal, submandibular, and mesenteric
lymph nodes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Contagious agalactia
Caprine DECEASED ANIMALS NVSL
Ovine Tissue: lung Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags FADDL
Joint fuid Sterile tube or red top tube
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
Bovine DECEASED ANIMALS NVSL
Fresh tissue: lung Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags FADDL
Joint fuid Sterile tube or red top tube
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia
Caprine DECEASED ANIMALS NVSL
Fresh tissue: lung Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags FADDL
Pleural fuid Sterile tube or red top tube
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
4-6
DIAG N OSTI C SA M PL I N G
S P EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Contagious equine metritis
Equine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Swabs for culture Call NVSL Ames for instructions Ames
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Dourine
Equine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml) Ames
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Equine piroplasmosis
Equine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml) Ames
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Foot-and-mouth disease
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Swine Dacron®/polyster swabs: oral or vesicular TBTB (3 ml) (small tissue tags from FADDL
Ovine lesions the edges of a ruptured vesicle may be
Caprine added to the swab)
Camelid Vesicular tissue (vesicular epithelium— Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag or screw-
Cervid (including as large as practical) cap plastic tubes
cloven-hoofed Animal shoud be restrained
zoo animals and
wildlife) Vesicular fuid Sterile tube or red top tube (undiluted)
or TBTB (50:50)
Crusts/scabs Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag or screw-
Animal “shoud” be restrained cap plastic tubes
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Esophageal-pharyngeal fuid (collected TBTB (50:50)
by probang for identifcation of FMD-
seropositive carriers)
Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue (esp. lymph node) Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
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D I AG NOSTIC SA M P L IN G
SP EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Glanders
Equine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Serum Red top tube (10 ml) Ames
Whole blood Purple or green top tube (10 ml)
Swabs for culture Call NVSL Ames for instructions
Heartwater4
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Ovine Serum Red top tube (10 ml) Ames
Caprine
Cervid Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Brain smear Air dry before packaging. If receipt at
lab to be > 24 hrs, fx with methanol
before shipping. Note on paperwork if
slide is fxed.
Fresh tissue: lymphoid tissues, brain, Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
kidney
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Highly pathogenic avian infuenza5
Avian LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Tracheal/Oropharyngeal swab Dacron®/polyester swab in BHI (3.0 ml) Ames
(can pool up to 5 swabs)
Cloacal swab Dacron®/polyester swab in BHI (3.0 ml)
(can pool up to 5 swabs)
For commercial poultry do NOT pool TR /OP with cloacal swabs.
Serum Red top tube (2 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Swab collection as above; tissues as below if needed.
Fresh tissue: trachea, lung, liver, spleen, For each bird:
kidney, terminal intestine Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® pooled
by system (respiratory, enteric,
reproductive)
4
NVSL FADDL tests import cases from FMD-endemic countries.
5
Refer to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/downloads/WIAV0020.pdf
4-8
DIAG N OSTI C SA M PL I N G
S P EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Lumpy skin disease
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Skin biopsy TBTB (3 ml) FADDL
Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
Lymph node aspirate TBTB (3 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Lymph node aspirate TBTB (3 ml)
Fresh tissues: skin, lymph node, lung Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Malignant catarrhal fever
Bovine (including LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
wild ruminants) Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml) Ames
(preferred for PCR) or NVSL
FADDL
Serum Red top tube (10 ml) (if vesicular
DECEASED ANIMALS
lesions)
Fresh tissue: spleen, eye Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
or screw-cap plastic tubes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Peste des petits ruminants
Ovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Caprine Dacron®/polyester swab: nasal, ocular, oral TBTB (3 ml) FADDL
(including wild
small ruminants) Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: bronchial lymph node, Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
mesenteric lynph node, lung, spleen,
intestinal mucosa
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease
Rabbit LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Serum (import/export only) Red top tube (5 ml) FADDL
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: liver Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
4-9
D I AG NOSTIC SA M P L IN G
SP EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Rift Valley fever
Ovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Bovine Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml) FADDL
Caprine Purple top tube (10 ml)
Camelid DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: liver, spleen, brain, placenta Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Schmallenberg virus (SBV)
Ovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Caprine Whole blood Purple top tube (10 ml) Ames
Bovine
Serum (fetal and adult; fetal cases should Red top tube (2–5 ml)
be accompanied by dam’s serum)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh fetal tissue: placenta, amniotic fuid, Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
brain (preferred), heart blood or screw-cap plastic tubes
Screwworm
All species LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Parasitology
Maggots from all parts of wounds. 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol – (Use VS
Include different sizes and appearances. not formalin Form 5-38)
Ovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Caprine Skin/Pox lesion biopsy TBTB (3 ml) FADDL
Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissues: skin, lymph node, lung Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag
or screw-cap plastic tubes
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
Swine vesicular disease
Swine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Dacron®/polyester swab: lesion, nasal, fecal TBTB (3 ml) FADDL
Vesicular tissue (vesicular epithelium— Tube or TBTB (3 ml)
as large as practical)
Vesicular fuid Sterile tube or red top tube (undiluted)
or TBTB (50:50)
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Whole blood Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue: skin, tongue, and mucosa Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
with lesions
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
4-10
DIAG N OSTI C SA M PL I N G
S P EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Teschovirus encephalomyelitis (Teschen/Talfan disease)
Swine DECEASED ANIMALS NVSL
Fresh tissue: brain, spinal cord Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags Ames and/
or NVSL
FADDL
Set of fxed tissues: brain, spinal cord Formalin (10:1) (if CSF in
differential
diagnosis)
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis
Equine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Serum Red top tube (5 ml) Ames
DECEASED ANIMALS
Brain, cerebrospinal fuid Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bag or screw-cap
plastic tubes and red top tube (CSF)
Vesicular stomatitis
Bovine LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Swine Dacron®/polyester swab: oral lesions TBTB (3 ml) FADDL
Ovine (Ruminant
Vesicular tissue (vesicular epithelium— Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
Caprine and Swine)
as large as practical) or tubes with 3ml TBTB
Equine and NVSL
Animal should be restrained Tissue tags from the edges of a
Camelid Ames
ruptured vesicle may be added to
Cervids (including (Equine)
the swab tube.
cloven-hoofed
zoo animals and Vesicular fuid Sterile tube or red top tube
wildlife) with TBTB (50:50)
Crusts/scabs Whirl-Pak®, Ziploc® bags, or tubes
Animal should be restrained (no media)
Serum Red top tube (10 ml)
Esophageal-pharyngeal fuid (collected TBTB (50:50)
by probang for identifcation of FMD-
seropositive carriers)
Whole blood (not needed for equine) Green top tube (10 ml)
Purple top tube (10 ml)
DECEASED ANIMALS
Fresh tissue (esp. lymph node) Separate Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® bags
Set of tissues Formalin (10:1)
4-11
D I AG NOSTIC SA M P L IN G
S P EC I E S SPECIMEN MEDIUM LAB
Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND)6
Avian LIVE ANIMALS NVSL
Ames
Tracheal/Oropharyngeal swab Dacron®/polyester swab in BHI (3.0 ml)
(can pool up to 5 swabs)
Cloacal swab Dacron®/polyester swab in BHI (3.0 ml)
(can pool up to 5 swabs)
For commercial poultry do NOT pool TR /OP with cloacal swabs.
DECEASED ANIMALS
Swab collection as above; tissues as below if needed.
Fresh tissue: trachea, lung, liver, spleen, For each bird:
kidney, terminal intestine, brain (if neuro- Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® pooled
logic signs) by system (respiratory, enteric,
reproductive)
6
Refer to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/downloads/WIAV0020.pdf
Collecting Tissue Samples
Tissue samples for formalin: at a minimum, collect 1 cm thick sections of any lesions, trachea, esophagus,
heart, lung, thoracic lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney, abdominal lymph nodes, bladder, stomach, duodenum,
jejunum, ileum, colon, and bursa for avian species.
If neurologic signs, collect brain, cut in half along midline, and submit as fresh and fxed. For the fxed
brain sample, ensure suffcient volume of formalin is included to maintain the 10:1 ratio of formalin to
tissue.
If small lesion, put entire lesion in Whirl-Pak® or Ziploc® for virology, NOT in formalin.
DO NOT FREEZE SAMPLES. Submit cool on frozen gel packs.
Contact FADDL about sample submissions at: fad.submissions@usda.gov
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