Provided that the field veterinarian can be sure that the specimens will be delivered to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory promptly, there are advantages in submitting the whole animal or whole affected organs.

Submission of the animal, live or dead, should be considered when there is a :

• High mortality or morbidity from an unknown cause.
• Continuing problem and previous examinations have not established a diagnosis.

All animals either live or dead, submitted to the laboratory must be accompanied by the appropriate specimen advice form with all relevant details. The laboratory should be advised by phone that the animal is being delivered. Any dead animal should arrive in time to allow a post mortem examination on the same day.

Standard Containers and Equipment

Specimens for gross pathology should be submitted in glass or plastic screw-top containers or strong plastic bags. When live or dead animals are submitted, the containers used should prevent contamination of the environment with possible pathogens.

Collection of Specimens

When submitting whole animals, ensure that they are typical of the syndrome being investigated.

When the necropsy is done in the field and a laboratory opinion is sought on gross changes detected, then a large portion of the tissue or organ should be submitted chilled but not frozen, containing the lesion and adjoining normal tissue for comparison.

If material is submitted for macroscopic examination, small portions in buffered formalin should also be taken and submitted for histopathological examination.

Storage and Despatch of Specimens

Tissue samples should be kept chilled from the time of collecting until they are received at the laboratory.

NB.
Do not freeze samples being submitted for either gross or histopathological examination.