Simple Instructions on Pregnancy and Disease Sample Shipping

The following information will apply to all sample and species types for pregnancy and biosecurity disease testing.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Ship Blood Samples for Diagnostic Testing

General Guidelines

• Ensure maximum 48 hours transit time during the hottest months.
• Do not ship before holidays / long weekends
• Proper packaging is essential for safety and compliance — follow all regulations for labeling and transport of diagnostic specimens.
• Reference Fedex Guide: https://www.fedex.com/content/dam/fedex/us-united-states/services/UN3373_fxcom.pdf
• We recommend not using the United States Postal Service (USPS) for diagnostic shipments. Even if shipped express, USPS deliveries often take an additional 2 days. For faster turnaround, use FedEx or UPS.

Packaging Requirements

• Primary Container: Use a watertight, leakproof container (e.g., 10 mL ear notch tube, red/yellow top tube, or screw-cap tube). Label each sample with animal ID.
• Secondary Packaging: Wrap each primary container in absorbent material (e.g., paper towel) and place in a leakproof zip-seal bag. Separate multiple tubes in a single ziplock bag with absorbent material.
• Outer Packaging: Use sturdy cardboard box (pregnancy samples) or insulated cooler (disease samples). Include ice packs (not frozen water bags). Must withstand a 4-foot drop test.
• Submission Form: Place in waterproof bag. Ensure contact details (address, phone, email) are included.
• Labeling: Mark as “Exempt Animal Specimen” on the outer packaging.

Important Safety Reminders:

• Do not send samples in syringes with needles attached (packages with sharps will be rejected).
• Do not use gloves, OB sleeves, or leaky containers for sample transport.
• Protect all samples from heat and freezing — hemolyzed or frozen samples may be rejected.

Specific Sample notes:

Pregnancy Testing:

• Collect whole blood into red-top / yellow-top tubes (no anticoagulant).
• Allow tubes to clot upright at room temperature for 30–60 minutes before refrigeration.
• After clotting, refrigerate at 2–8 °C until shipping.
• Do not freeze.

Serological Biosecurity Testing with Serum (Red/yellow top tubes for tests such as Johne’s ELISA, CAE/OPP, CL):

• Collect whole blood into red-top / yellow-top tubes (no anticoagulant).
• Allow tubes to clot upright at room temperature for 30–60 minutes before refrigeration.
• After clotting, refrigerate at 2–8 °C until shipping.
• Do not freeze.

Plasma Samples (Purple Top Tube)

• Collect whole blood into purple-top tube (EDTA anticoagulant).
• Invert gently to mix — do not shake.
• Keep refrigerated (2–8 °C) until shipping.
• Do not freeze.

Ear Notch Samples (e.g., BVDV Ag):

• Collect tissue in a 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred) or other sterile, leakproof tube.
• Keep refrigerated (2–8 °C) until shipping.
• Do not freeze.

Fecal Samples (e.g., Johne’s PCR):

• Must be fresh and collected directly from rectum (not ground).
• Submit in 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred), other leakproof sterile tube, or sealed plastic bag.
• Avoid overfilling to prevent leakage.
• Do not freeze.
• Ship overnight to lab as soon as possible to prevent degradation and egg hatching.

Pus from Lymph Node Abscess Samples (e.g., CL PCR):

• Collect pus from abscess using sterile syringe (no needle / syringe for shipping) or swab.
• For swabs, use sterile polyester (Dacron) or nylon flocked swabs with plastic shafts. Avoid cotton, calcium alginate, or wooden shaft swabs.
• Place in 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred) or other sterile, leakproof screw-cap tube.
• Ship overnight to lab to prevent nucleic acid degradation.

Swine Milk Samples (PEDV – IgA test)

• Collect into 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred) or other sterile, leakproof tube.
• Avoid manure/debris contamination.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to ship (2–8 °C).

Swine Blister Fluid Samples (SVA PCR)

• Collect aseptically from vesicles using sterile syringe (no needle for shipping) or swab.
• Place in 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred) or other sterile, leakproof tube.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to ship (2–8 °C).
• Ship overnight on ice packs.

Swine Oral Fluid Samples (e.g., PEDV PCR)

• Collect using rope-chew method or sterile swab.
• Transfer into 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred) or other sterile, leakproof tube.
• Use sterile polyester (Dacron) or nylon flocked swabs with plastic shafts. Avoid cotton, calcium alginate, or wooden shaft swabs.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to ship (2–8 °C).
• Ship overnight on ice packs.

Nasal Swabs (e.g., CDV PCR)

• Use sterile polyester (Dacron) or nylon flocked swabs with plastic shafts. Avoid cotton, calcium alginate, or wooden shaft swabs.
• Nasal Swab: Collect from both nostrils with sterile swab.
• Place in 10 mL ear notch tube (preferred) or other sterile, leakproof tube with VTM or saline.
• If not available, swabs may be submitted dry (reduced sensitivity).
• Keep refrigerated until ready to ship (2–8 °C).
• Ship overnight on ice packs.