REPLACE™
Rodent Colony Environmental Health Monitoring
Sample Requirements
REPLACE™ matrix
50 mL conical tube
Collection Instructions
REPLACE™ and other exhaust air debris collection filters, membranes, or matrices measuring up to 6 cm x 9.5 cm can be placed lengthwise in a 50 ml conical tube. For matrices suspended in the exhaust air stream, the upward facing side of the matrix should face the center of the collection tube. For thin filters placed perpendicular to the air stream, the side of the filter facing the airflow should face the center of the collection tube.
Sample Storage
Environmental samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Place labeled sample tubes in a padded mailer or box and ship overnight to our laboratory.
Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Other environmental sample types can be submitted (i.e. swabs of plenums, prefilters, dust, or cages; exhaust dust samples)
Please connect with our team for detailed sample collection information
Sentinel Health Monitoring or Quarantine Testing
Sample types include fecal pellets, dry oral swab, pelt swab, OptiSpot® (serology), Serum (serology)
Fecal Pellets
Sample Requirements
Fecal Pellets (for PCR testing)
If testing individual mice/rats, submit fecal pellets from each animal. Two to three pellets per animal are adequate.
2 or 5 mL tube
Collection Instructions
Fecal pellets for PCR evaluation should be collected with clean gloves or sterile forceps and placed in individually labeled sterile tubes.
Sample Storage
Fecal samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Please place labeled sample tubes in the provided specimen plastic bag before placing the bag(s) in a box and ship overnight to our lab. Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Information: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 fecal pellets can be pooled and tested as one sample. If collecting fecal pellets from multiple animals, gloves should be changed, and forceps replaced between animals to prevent cross-contamination. Alternatively, forceps can be wiped clean and immersed in diluted bleach (10%) solution for 10 minutes prior to reuse.
Dry Oral Swab
Sample Requirements
Dry Oral Swab (for PCR testing)
30 mL tube
Collection Instructions
Using a sterile, dry flocked swab, restrain the animal with one hand so that the head is not able to move from side to side.
Insert the oral swab starting at the corner of the mouth to encourage the animal to open its mouth.
Slowly twirl the swab to collect the sample.
Insert the swab halfway into a labeled sterile tube, close the tube lid against the swab shaft, and pull down on the swab shaft to break the shaft. The tip end will fall into the tube, and the tube can be capped.
Sample Storage
Oral swab samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen
Shipping
Please place labeled sample swabs in the provided specimen plastic bag before placing the bag(s) in a box and ship overnight to our lab. Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Instruction: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 oral swabs can be pooled and tested as one sample.
Pelt Swab
Sample Requirements
Pelt Swab (for PCR testing)
30 ml tube
Collection Instructions
Using a sterile, dry flocked swab, thoroughly swab the fur against the direction of the hair coat of the animal.
It is important to swab around the face, back, tail base, and belly for the best results.
Insert the swab halfway into a labeled sterile tube, close the tube lid against the swab shaft, and pull down on the swab shaft to break the shaft.
The tip end will fall into the tube, and the tube can be capped.
Sample Storage
Pelt swab samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Please place labeled sample swabs in the provided specimen plastic bag before placing the bag(s) in a box and ship overnight to our lab. Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Instruction: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 pelt swabs can be pooled and tested as one sample.
OptiSpot®
Sample Requirements
OptiSpot® card (for Serology testing)
Lancet or needle
Collection Instructions
The Opti-Spot® cards are constructed with 5 individual strips separated by perforations.
The strips can easily be separated along the perforation lines for individual use if needed. On each strip, a 1 cm² circle is printed on the face of the Opti-Spot® membrane as a guide.
It is not necessary that the blood spot be centered within the circle.
Label one Opti-Spot® card with a unique identification number for each sample strip. Ante-mortem blood samples may be obtained by lancing the lateral saphenous, facial or the temporal vein.
Touch the Opti-Spot® membrane to blood drop as it forms on the surface of the skin. If the blood sample is taken by cardiocentesis, quickly dispense one drop of whole blood onto the Opti-Spot® strip. T
he blood spot should be of sufficient size (approximately 1 cm²) to nearly fill the printed circle and be of sufficient volume to saturate the membrane.
The blood spot will appear similar on both sides of the membrane.
Allow the blood spot to dry for a minimum of one hour.
Once dried, fold the protective upper tab over the blood spot and tuck under the lower tab.
Sample Storage
It is important that the Opti-Spot® strip is protected from moisture.
Shipping
Once dry, place Opti-Spot® samples in a water-tight plastic bag containing the provided silica gel desiccant pack, and ship samples in a standard overnight envelope shipped at ambient temperature.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Refrain from pooling serum samples on OptiSpot® strips, a practice that can yield false negative results by dilution effect.
Serum
Sample Requirements
Serum (for Serology testing)
1.5 mL centrifuge tube
Collection Instructions
MFI2 requires only 0.2 µl of undiluted serum (1.0 µl of 1:5 diluted serum) regardless of the number of tests requested.
To allow for potential secondary and tertiary confirmatory testing, we recommend that a minimum of 20 µl of undiluted (100 µl of 1:5 diluted serum) be submitted for each sample.
You may achieve an approximate 1:5 dilution of serum by adding 1 part of whole blood to 4 parts of ambient temperature saline.
Refrigerate the diluted blood for 6 to 12 hours, centrifuge at low speed for 5–10 minutes, and recover the 1:5 diluted serum for submission.
Undiluted serum is preferred.
Sample Storage
Serum and plasma should be stored in tubes with the lids secured to prevent leakage. The use of Parafilm™ over tube lids is recommended to prevent leakage.
Shipping
Serum samples should be shipped frozen using an overnight service.
One or two ice packs are generally adequate depending on the type of container, the number of samples and the ambient temperature.
Optimal shipping conditions are achieved when the entire package with its lid open is frozen overnight at or below -20˚C.
Close tubes when shipping samples.
The use of dry ice is not required.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Do not submit whole blood; hemolysis will occur during freezing or shipping and may interfere with serologic test performance.
Refrain from pooling serum samples, a practice that can yield false negative results by dilution effect.
Please include a completed serology submission form specifying the species, serum dilution, and the serology profile or individual test(s) requested.
Describe any potential biohazards associated with the samples.
Please use a separate serology accession form for each species and serologic profile or group of test(s) requested.
Serology Testing
Sample types include IDEXX BioAnalytics OptiSpot® and serum.
OptiSpot®
Sample Requirements
OptiSpot® card (for Serology testing)
Lancet or needle
Collection Instructions
The Opti-Spot® cards are constructed with 5 individual strips separated by perforations.
The strips can easily be separated along the perforation lines for individual use if needed. On each strip, a 1 cm² circle is printed on the face of the Opti-Spot® membrane as a guide.
It is not necessary that the blood spot be centered within the circle.
Label one Opti-Spot® card with a unique identification number for each sample strip. Ante-mortem blood samples may be obtained by lancing the lateral saphenous, facial or the temporal vein.
Touch the Opti-Spot® membrane to blood drop as it forms on the surface of the skin. If the blood sample is taken by cardiocentesis, quickly dispense one drop of whole blood onto the Opti-Spot® strip. T
he blood spot should be of sufficient size (approximately 1 cm²) to nearly fill the printed circle and be of sufficient volume to saturate the membrane.
The blood spot will appear similar on both sides of the membrane.
Allow the blood spot to dry for a minimum of one hour.
Once dried, fold the protective upper tab over the blood spot and tuck under the lower tab.
Sample Storage
Fecal samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Once dry, place Opti-Spot® samples in a water-tight plastic bag containing the provided silica gel desiccant pack, and ship samples in a standard overnight envelope shipped at ambient temperature.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Refrain from pooling serum samples on OptiSpot® strips, a practice that can yield false negative results by dilution effect.
Serum
Sample Requirements
Serum (for Serology testing)
1.5 mL centrifuge tube
Collection Instructions
MFI2 requires only 0.2 µl of undiluted serum (1.0 µl of 1:5 diluted serum) regardless of the number of tests requested.
To allow for potential secondary and tertiary confirmatory testing, we recommend that a minimum of 20 µl of undiluted (100 µl of 1:5 diluted serum) be submitted for each sample.
You may achieve an approximate 1:5 dilution of serum by adding 1 part of whole blood to 4 parts of ambient temperature saline.
Refrigerate the diluted blood for 6 to 12 hours, centrifuge at low speed for 5–10 minutes, and recover the 1:5 diluted serum for submission.
Undiluted serum is preferred.
Sample Storage
Serum and plasma should be stored in tubes with the lids secured to prevent leakage. The use of Parafilm™ over tube lids is recommended to prevent leakage.
Shipping
Serum samples should be shipped frozen using an overnight service.
One or two ice packs are generally adequate depending on the type of container, the number of samples and the ambient temperature.
Optimal shipping conditions are achieved when the entire package with its lid open is frozen overnight at or below -20˚C.
Close tubes when shipping samples.
The use of dry ice is not required.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Do not submit whole blood; hemolysis will occur during freezing or shipping and may interfere with serologic test performance.
Refrain from pooling serum samples, a practice that can yield false negative results by dilution effect.
Please include a completed serology submission form specifying the species, serum dilution, and the serology profile or individual test(s) requested.
Describe any potential biohazards associated with the samples.
Please use a separate serology accession form for each species and serologic profile or group of test(s) requested.
Real-Time PCR
Sample types include fecal pellets, dry oral swab, pelt swab and REPLACE™.
Fecal Pellets
Sample Requirements
Fecal Pellets (for PCR testing)
If testing individual mice/rats, submit fecal pellets from each animal. Two to three pellets per animal are adequate.
2 or 5 mL tube
Collection Instructions
Fecal pellets for PCR evaluation should be collected with clean gloves or sterile forceps and placed in individually labeled sterile tubes.
Sample Storage
Fecal samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Please place labeled sample tubes in the provided specimen plastic bag before placing the bag(s) in a box and ship overnight to our lab. Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Information: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 fecal pellets can be pooled and tested as one sample. If collecting fecal pellets from multiple animals, gloves should be changed, and forceps replaced between animals to prevent cross-contamination. Alternatively, forceps can be wiped clean and immersed in diluted bleach (10%) solution for 10 minutes prior to reuse.
Dry Oral Swab
Sample Requirements
Dry Oral Swab (for PCR testing)
30 mL tube
Collection Instructions
Using a sterile, dry flocked swab, restrain the animal with one hand so that the head is not able to move from side to side.
Insert the oral swab starting at the corner of the mouth to encourage the animal to open its mouth.
Slowly twirl the swab to collect the sample.
Insert the swab halfway into a labeled sterile tube, close the tube lid against the swab shaft, and pull down on the swab shaft to break the shaft. The tip end will fall into the tube, and the tube can be capped.
Sample Storage
Oral swab samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen
Shipping
Please place labeled sample swabs in the provided specimen plastic bag before placing the bag(s) in a box and ship overnight to our lab. Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Instruction: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 oral swabs can be pooled and tested as one sample.
Pelt Swab
Sample Requirements
Pelt Swab (for PCR testing)
30 ml tube
Collection Instructions
Using a sterile, dry flocked swab, thoroughly swab the fur against the direction of the hair coat of the animal.
It is important to swab around the face, back, tail base, and belly for the best results.
Insert the swab halfway into a labeled sterile tube, close the tube lid against the swab shaft, and pull down on the swab shaft to break the shaft.
The tip end will fall into the tube, and the tube can be capped.
Sample Storage
Pelt swab samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Please place labeled sample swabs in the provided specimen plastic bag before placing the bag(s) in a box and ship overnight to our lab. Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Instruction: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 pelt swabs can be pooled and tested as one sample.
REPLACE™
Sample Requirements
REPLACE matrix
50 mL conical tube
Collection Instructions
REPLACE and other exhaust air debris collection filters, membranes, or matrices measuring up to 6 cm x 9.5 cm can be placed lengthwise in a 50 ml conical tube. For matrices suspended in the exhaust air stream, the upward facing side of the matrix should face the center of the collection tube. For thin filters placed perpendicular to the air stream, the side of the filter facing the airflow should face the center of the collection tube.
Sample Storage
Environmental samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Place labeled sample tubes in a padded mailer or box and ship overnight to our laboratory.
Samples can be shipped at ambient temperature or on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Other environmental sample types can be submitted (i.e. swabs of plenums, prefilters, dust, or cages; exhaust dust samples)
Please connect with our team for detailed sample collection information
Microbiology
Sample types include oral swabs, anaerobic and fastidious bacterial swab, and fresh fecal pellets
Oral Swab
Sample Requirements
Oral Swab Collection (for culture)
Obtain a small wire shaft culture swab with Aimies gel transport medium without charcoal (e.g. Becton Dickenson BBL CultureSwab Plus with Amies Gel medium without charcoal for aerobic organisms. BBL cat. # 220118; Fisher Scientific cat. # L4320118).
Collection Instructions
Manually restrain the animal and swab the oral cavity. Pooling culture swabs or feces for Microbiology is not recommended. Pooling of these sample types may dilute samples below the level of detection.
Sample Storage
Fecal samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Securely place the swab in the transport medium. Send the culture swabs in transport medium by overnight courier in an insulated container on ice packs, making sure that there is insulation (e.g. bubble pack) between the ice packs and the culture swabs so the swabs do not freeze.
Turnaround Time
10-14 business days
Additional Information
Anaerobic and Fastidious Bacterial Swab
Sample Requirements
Anaerobic and Fastidious Bacterial Swab (for culture)
Obtain a culture swab designed for the collection and transport of anaerobic and fastidious organisms (e.g Becton Dickenson BBL ESwab Collection Kit. BBL cat.# 220245; Fisher Scientific cat.#22-349-700).
Collection Instructions
Collect the specimen with the swab.
Aseptically unscrew and remove the cap from the transport tube.
Insert the swab into the transport tube and break the swab shaft at the indicated breakpoint.
Replace the cap and screw the cap on tightly.
Sample Storage
Please always keep sample refrigerated and only for a limited time before shipment.
Shipping
Send the culture swabs by overnight courier in an insulated container on ice packs, making sure that there is insulation (e.g. bubble pack) between the ice packs and the culture swabs so the swabs do not freeze.
Turnaround Time
10-14 business days
Additional Information
Pooling Instruction: If multiple animals of the same microbiologic unit are being evaluated, up to 10 oral swabs can be pooled and tested as one sample.
Fresh fecal pellets
Sample Requirements
Fresh fecal pellets (for culture)
2 or 5 mL tube
Collection Instructions
Fecal pellets should be collected aseptically and placed in individually labeled sterile tubes.
If testing individual animals, submit fecal pellets from each animal. Two to three pellets per animal is adequate.
If collecting fecal pellets from multiple animals, gloves should be changed, and forceps replaced between animals to prevent cross-contamination.
Alternatively, forceps can be wiped clean and immersed in diluted bleach (10%) solution for 10 minutes prior to reuse.
Sample Storage
Please always keep sample refrigerated and only for a limited time before shipment.
Shipping
Send the tubes by overnight courier in an insulated container on ice packs, making sure that there is insulation (e.g. bubble pack) between the ice packs and the culture swabs so the feces do not freeze.
Turnaround Time
10-14 business days
Additional Information
Aquatics Health Monitoring
Sample types include laboratory fish, environmental samples and feeds, samples for bacterial or fungal growth, or whole fish
Zebrafish and other laboratory fish for PCR testing
Sample Requirements
Zebrafish and other laboratory fish (for PCR testing)
Collection Instructions
Live fish for necropsy (US only)
Fish for PCR only: please submit frozen fish in conical tube(s)
Fish embryos or larvae for PCR: please euthanize embryos and submit 2 mL
Sample Storage
Shipping
Please ship live fish in clearly labeled heavy-duty plastic bladders or in doubled plastic bags, secured so that they will not leak and containing approximately 1/3 system water and 2/3 air. Fish should be shipped in insulated containers by overnight courier.
Please submit frozen fish, embryo, or larvae with sufficient ice packs to ensure that fish remain frozen during transit. Dry ice is not required.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
You can pool up to 5 adult fish in the same tube to be tested as one sample. We do not recommend pooling fish of different health statuses or across different systems, like quarantine and a main system for example.
Environmental samples and feeds for PCR testing
Sample Requirements
Environmental samples and feeds (for PCR testing)
Collection Instructions
Detritus (biofilm or sediment) for PCR: please collect 2 mL of detritus into a tube.
Fish feces for PCR: please collect a pool of fish feces into a microcentrifuge tube.
Live feed cultures for PCR: please submit at least 1 mL of frozen live feed culture (i.e. Artemia, Rotifer, or Paramecium)
Sample Storage
Shipping
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
Collection of detritus is recommended over environmental swabs.
Samples for bacterial or fungal growth
Sample Requirements
Samples for bacterial or fungal growth
Collection Instructions
Culture swabs: Please submit culture swabs collected from skin, gills, or lesioned organs in a culturette containing a suitable transport medium, such as Amies Medium.
Water samples: please submit 50 mL of water in plastic container with tight-fitting lid tha twill not leak in transit
Sample Storage
Pelt swab samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Swabs or water samples should be shipped with cold packs in an insulated container by
overnight courier.
Please make sure to provide adequate insulation (e.g. bubble wrap, toweling, etc.) between ice packs and samples to prevent freezing.
Turnaround Time
10-14 business days
Additional Information
Whole fish for Histopathology
Sample Requirements
Whole fish for Histopath
Collection Instructions
Please either submit fish fixed in 10% buffered formalin or another formalin-based fixative such as Dietrich’s, Davidson’s, or Bouin’s fixative (please indicate). To ensure proper fixation, open up the coelom (abdomen). This can be accomplished by making a lengthwise incision through the body wall or by removing a small piece of the body wall.
Sample Storage
Shipping
Samples may be shipped at ambient temperature by overnight courier.
Turnaround Time
10 business days
Additional Information
Fish cannot be pooled for histopathology.
For submission of fish for both histopathology and PCR, please submit separate fish for each service per above recommendations.
NHP Health Monitoring
Testing capabilities include PCR, microbiology and parasitology
PCR Testing
Sample Requirements
PCR testing: 1 g or 1 mL of feces (approximate size of a marble);
Collection Instructions
Fecal samples for PCR evaluation should be placed in individually labeled sterile polypropylene conical tubes.
Alternatively, a Puritan fecal culture swab with liquid Cary-Blair media can be submitted. (Sample collection materials available from IDEXX BioAnalytics.)
Sample Storage
Fecal samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to ship. For long-term storage, samples should be frozen.
Shipping
Place labeled sample tubes in insulated shipping box and ship overnight to our laboratory. Samples should be shipped on ice packs.
Please include the submission paperwork inside the shipping box.
Turnaround Time
3 business days
Additional Information
If submitting a sample for both PCR and microbiology services, follow the directions for microbiology samples.
Microbiology
Sample Requirements
Fecal samples for Microbiology should be obtained using a Puritan fecal culture swab with liquid Cary-Blair media (available from IDEXX BioAnalytics).
Collect fecal material on the swab and securely place the swab in the transport medium. Alternatively, fresh fecal samples in a conical tube may be submitted for culture
Collection Instructions
Sample Storage
Shipping
Please send culture swabs or feces by overnight courier in an insulated container on ice packs, making sure to provide adequate insulation (e.g. bubble wrap, toweling, etc.) between ice packs and samples to prevent freezing.
Please include the submission paperwork inside the shipping box.
Turnaround Time
5 business days
Additional Information
If submitting a sample for both PCR and microbiology services, follow the directions for microbiology samples.
Parasitology
Sample Requirements
Parasitology:Feces for Ova & Parasite: (3–5 g or 3–5 mL of fecal material in SAF)
Collection Instructions
A 5:1 ratio of fixative to feces in the SAF vial
is recommended.
Sample Storage
Pelt swab samples are stable and can be held at room temperature if packaged the same day for shipping or stored in the refrigerator until ready to send. For long-term storage, samples can be frozen.
Shipping
Turnaround Time
5 business days
Additional Information
Microbiome and Germ-Free
Sample types include fecal pellets
Fecal pellets for characterization of the fecal microbiota via 16 sRNA sequencing
Sample Requirements
Fecal pellets for characterization of the fecal microbiota via 16 sRNA sequencing
Material needed:- Sterile toothpick
- Autclaved microisolator cages (completely empty)
- sterile 1.5 mL centrifuge tubes
Collection Instructions
Pre-label Eppendorf tubes (one per mouse/rat) with sample ID (minimum), treatment group, if applicable, any other metadata you would like associated with the sample.
Place individual animal in empty autoclaved cage (no bedding).
Allow mouse/rat to defecate normally and collect the first two fecal pellets per animal into an empty 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube using a sterile toothpick. Close tube securely.
Discard toothpick after each animal.
Place Eppendorf tube containing fecal pellets in -80°C freezer IMMEDIATELY.
Sample Storage
Maintain samples at -80°C until ready to ship. Samples may remain at -80°C for extended periods.
Shipping
Ship samples overnight with sufficient dry ice (2-3 day transport time) to ensure the samples stay frozen.
Turnaround Time
Please contact us for more information
Additional Information
Note: We recommend collection of all samples at the same time of day, preferably in the morning, as the microbiome content varies over the course of the day.
Fecal pellets for Germ-Free Animal Monitoring
Sample Requirements
Fecal pellets for Germ-Free Animal Monitoring
Collection Instructions
Fecal pellets should be collected aseptically and placed in individually labeled sterile tubes.
If testing individual mice/rats, submit fecal pellets from each animal. Two to three pellets per animal is adequate.
If collecting fecal pellets from multiple animals, gloves should be changed and forceps replaced between animals to prevent cross-contamination.
Alternatively, forceps can be wiped clean and immersed in diluted bleach (10%) solution for 10 minutes prior to reuse.
Sample Storage
Fecal samples should be stored in the refrigerator until ready to send.
Shipping
Place labeled sample tubes in a styrofoam box and ship overnight to our laboratory.
Samples should be shipped on ice packs.
Turnaround Time
Please contact us for more information
Additional Information
Histology sample collection & shipping
Sample Requirements
Organs, tissue (for Histology)
Collection Instructions
Place tissues in formalin for at least 24 hours before shipment. Tissue to formalin ratio should be 1 to 20 for proper fixation.
Whole rodent and tissues such as lung, brain, bone marrow and spinal cord have specialized collection protocols.
Make sure tissues are not tightly packed in jars or cassettes. Smaller tissues can be placed in a cassette or submitted attached to surrounding organs.
Label cassettes with a pencil. Even indelible ink will fade during processing.
Tissues can be shipped in 70% alcohol or formalin. If you plan to perform IHC testing after preparation, please consult with our Client Support Services team for the proper fixation protocol.
Store fixed samples at room temperature. Frozen samples must be stored and shipped on dry ice.
Sample Storage
Shipping
To preserve sample integrity and prevent leakage samples should be triple-bagged with each layer tied, knotted or secured individually.
Screw-topped containers are preferred. Make sure the lid is tightly secured to the jar and place a layer of Parafilm or tape to secure the lid to the jar.
Invert the jar to check for leaks and reseal if needed.
Place jar(s) into one gallon sealable bag with absorbent material such as paper towels and seal the bag.
Place samples in a sealable bag in a second sealable bag and seal or double-line (one bag inside of another) the shipping box with large garbage bags and tie off each bag separately.
Prior to knotting the first garbage bag, place absorbent packing materials around the bagged samples to not only absorb any leaked fluid but to prevent jostling and stabilize samples during shipment.
If sample jars are too large to seal in a one gallon sealable bag, you can also use garbage bags to triple line the shipping container.
Absorbent material should be placed around the samples in the first garbage bag prior to tying a knot in the bag.
Place the Histology Submission Form(s) or online submission packing slip and other supporting documents (if needed) on the outside of the second garbage bag.
Do not tape the inventory form to the outside of the box or place with samples in the same sealable bag.
Turnaround Time
Varies based on services requested.
Additional Information
Proper collection techniques are vital for obtaining optimal results. Consultations can be arranged.