Guidelines for Sample Submission

Samples to be tested in Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital Laboratory must be submitted at the reception desk along with duly filled laboratory submission form. All the below mentioned fields must be legibly and mandatorily filled in the laboratory submission form.

1. Sample Collection Date
2. Owner’s name
3. Sender’s name
4. Sender’s organization
5. Sender’s email and mobile number
6. Animal species
7. Animal ID
8. History (acute or chronic outbreak, mortality, clinical signs, vaccination, treatment etc. Please include relevant details in case of samples submitted for histopathology such as clinical details or gross pathology of samples at the time of autopsy)
9. Specimen details
10. Tests required

Please find the laboratory service list for more details on sample collection, transportation conditions, test matrices, prices and turnaround time for each test.

All samples must be submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection. We recommend the use of leak proof containers for sample collection and the use of specimen bags, if needed biohazard specimen bags to put the specimen container after sample collection in order to protect samples and to avoid contamination in case of accidental leakage.

The specimen containers must be labelled properly with animal ID and specimen type. Sample transportation box with ice packs should be used to maintain the temperature (2 – 8oC) during sample transportation when necessary.

Please ensure that the samples are collected in collection tubes or containers with valid expiration dates.

Sample requirements for certain specific tests

• For Avian Influenza Virus testing by PCR method, please collect oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs pooled together in one sample tube with viral transport media for each bird.
• Kindly collect samples for bacteriological analysis in swabs with transport media (Amies medium) in order to maintain the viability of microorganisms. Samples sent in dry swabs for bacteriological analysis will be rejected.
• Swabs for molecular detection of viruses by PCR method must be submitted in viral transport media to maintain sample stability.
• For histopathological analysis, each specimen must be submitted in clearly labelled individual containers with 10% formalin (1:20 sample to formalin ratio).

Please note that if the sample received does not satisfy the conditions and requirements for testing as specified in the guidelines listed above, the sample can be rejected.

Samples which do not meet the minimum volume as required by the test will be rejected if the laboratory is unable to perform the test. The sender will be notified via phone or email with regard to sample rejection. In case of tests where the low sample volume may affect the results of the test, the sender will be notified prior to testing and the test shall be proceeded only upon written consent from the sender that the ADFH laboratory will not able be held liable for any discrepancies in the result as the sender was informed about inadequate sample volume prior to testing.