Before Beginning…
Determine the goal of testing. Each test ordered needs one sample. If the goal of the test is to determine a current outbreak, the rats being tested should be 8-12 weeks old. If the goal is to determine which agents the colony has recovered from and has antibodies for, the rats being tested should be 6+ months old or older.
Next, determine the best sampling method. Serology is used to determine the antibodies present in the test rats. PCR is used to determine current infections and also is the best method to test for Rat Bite Fever.
Serology – HemaTip Blood Samples
Four HemaTips arrive in a Clamshell transport case. This case can be used to ship the sample(s) back; however, a 5ml tube is best to ensure the sample doesn’t get contaminated. The most common method of collecting blood samples from home is clipping a toe nail a little too short, and then touching the toe to the HamaTip. Use ONE HemaTip per test ordered and pool up to six samples on each HemaTip.
Keep in mind: pooling samples will mean that a positive can’t be traced to which of the (up to) six was positive. Ex: If only one of those rats has parvo, the whole test will be a positive result and all six rats must be presumed positive. However, with the nature of how agents spread, it’s safe to assume that if one rat is positive, so are others.
HemaTip Instructional Video
Additional Serology Resources:
PCR – Oral Swab Samples
Once you have your sampling supplies and the rats you’d like to test, prepare to collect oral swab samples. For these samples, you will attach your label to the outside of the 5ml tube. A reminder that the label you attach to your tube will be the same as the Sample Code you provided when ordering your test. Collect your sample by swabbing the inside of your rat(s) mouth and then cut off the cotton tip and place it into the tube. You can add up to ten swab tips in each tube.
Keep in mind: pooling samples will mean that a positive can’t be traced to which of the (up to) ten was positive. Ex: If only one of those rats has RBF, the whole test will be a positive result and all ten rats must be presumed positive. However, with the nature of how agents spread, it’s safe to assume that if one rat is positive, so are others.
Packaging
With your selected supplies you should also receive Biohazard bags and yellow Sample Submission stickers to attach to the outside of your package. You’ll place your completed and labeled samples inside the Biohazard bags, seal the bag, and place that along with your order form into the padded shipping envelope. On the yellow label you will select Serology and/or PCR depending on the tests you ordered, and circle Room Temp. at the bottom. If you do not receive a yellow label, that is okay since these samples do not require specific shipping conditions.
