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Coverslips Work Best For Exotics

 

Coverslips should be made in the following manner:

 

Using two glass coverslips, place a small drop of blood directly in the center of one coverslip. (If glass slides are being made, please start with the drop of blood at the end opposite the frosted edge)

Drop other coverslip on top of the first so edges do not line up.

You will see the blood “fan out” in all directions. When the blood slows down or comes to a stop simply pull the coverslips apart (as you would when making a pull smear). Do not pick one up off the other. If the blood rushes to the edges you’ve used too much blood– if the blood does not

“fan out” you either used too little blood or there is dust or surface debris on the coverslip.

Allow coverslips to air dry prior to shipping.

Hematocrit Tubes…

When separating the plasma from the RBC’s, do not “bust” the tube. This will only cause you to lose most of the sample. Using a three-sided file, gently “score” at the plasma/RBC interface. You will hear a light “etching” sound. The tube will break easily and you can then transfer the plasma into the serum transport bullet.

UPS Packaging & Shipments

ALWAYS seal your labpack prior to the courier leaving. Don’t count on the courier to seal the package.

ALWAYS use the Return Service labels supplied by our lab on your labpacks. If you are running low call the lab for more. Only Avian & Exotic supplies the Return Service labels. Order UPS labpacks and padded packs from the lab also. (These will be shipped directly from UPS to you) Please specify a contact person.

PLEASE use labpacks when shipping. IF you use a box, please use one that will fit into the labpack. This will 1. Avoid additional dimensional weight charges 2. Labpacks are handled with more care and expeditiously than other types of packaging.

 

Coverslip slides…

  • Transport easily in the small plastic slide boxes provided by the lab.
  • Are less destructive to blood cells and provide more accurate distribution of cells
  • Other components such as hematocrit tubes, serum transport tubes, slides, GTT/RTT

         can be transported in the same slidebox with the coverslips.

 

Recommended Serum/Plasma Sample Submissions

 

Test(s)  Recommended Plasma/Serum  Alternate Choice   
CBC 2 Half-filled, rotated Hct tubes & 2 air-dried coverslips (Whole Blood….Do not spin & separate) One GTT tube & 2 air-dried coverslips (Whole Blood….Do not spin)
Mini Reptilian 75ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube 2 half-filled rotated Hct tubes & 2 air-dried coverslips.
(Hct are whole blood ….do not spin)
.1 cc serum/plasma in a spum RTT or GGT tube.
Mini Avian 75ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube 2 half-filled rotated Hct tubes & 2 air-dried coverslips.(Hct are whole blood ….do not spin) 2 half-filled rotated Hct tubes & 2 air-dried
Mini Chem  (any species) 1-2 Hep. Hct tubes spun, separated& clayed on 1 end. (Be sure to leave an air pocket between clay & plasma) .05 cc  serum/plasma in serum transport tube. GTT or RTT spun and separated can also be used.
Complete Avian or Complete Reptilian 75ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube (or 2-3 Hep. Hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on 1 end) & 2 half-filled rotated, whole blood Hct Tubes & 2 air-dried coverslips .1 cc serum/plasma in a spun RTT or GTT tube 2 half-full rotated Hct tubes & 2 coverslip (Hct tubes are whole blood…do not spin)
Small Mammal    150ul separated serum/plasma, in a serum transport tube. .150 cc serum/plasma in a spun RTT or GTT tube
Complete Chem (any species)  1-2 Hep. Hct tubes spun, separated& clayed on 1 end Be sure to leave an air pocket between clay & plasma) .1 GTT or RTT spun and separated can be used
Microscreen or Special Screen 2  Hct. tubes spun, separated & clayed on 1 end, 2  half-filled rotated Hct tubes of whole blood .05 cc serum/plasma in a serum transport tube, & 2  air-dried coverslips
Chlamydia IFA    .50ul of Serum or Plasma 3 Hep. Hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on 1 end. (Tip: transport Hct Tubes in a plastic slidebox)
Resting T-4           .050 cc of serum/plasma  in spun GTT or RTT tube 2-3 Hep. Hct. tubes spun & separated
Blood Lead .050 cc of hep.  whole blood in a serum tube or 2 Hep. Hct. tubes of whole blood clayed on 1 end. .05 cc whole blood in a GTT Tube.
Blood Zinc     .05 cc of serum/plasma in a serum bullet tubeor .05 cc of serum/plasma in a spun GTT or RTT tube 2-3 Hep. Hct tubes of whole blood.  CRITICAL: Leave a large air pocket between the clay and the serum.
  ***Critical Note For Zinc Testing:   
1. Vacutainers or other containers with rubber stoppers
 Do Not Use….>>> 2.   LTT / EDTA Samples (unsuitable)
Pasteurella Titer & Salmonella Titer .075 cc of serum or plasma in a spun GTT or RTT tube (volume of plasma after spinning RTT or GTT) (Remember to always leave an air pocket or space between the serum/plasma and the clay)
Pachecos Titer .150 cc of serum/plasma in a serum transport tube or 6-7 Hep. Hct tubes spun, separated& clayed on 1 end
Polyoma Titer .1 cc of serum/plasma in a spun GTT or RTT tube
Avian Influenza .5 cc of serum/plasma in a serum transport tube .5 cc of serum/plasma in a spun RTT or GTT tube
E-Cunicula Titer   .2 cc of serum/plasma in a serum transport tube
PBFD DNA      2 cc of Hep. whole blood in a serum transport tube. DNA /PCR tests requiring heparinized whole blood can be run on 1-2 Hep. Hct tubes of whole blood clayed on1 end.  (transport in a plastic slide box for protection)
Polyoma DNA  .2 cc of whole blood in a GTT tube (unspun)         
Sexing DNA                           .2 cc of whole blood in a GTT tube (unspun)                                
Mycoplasma DNA   1 swab from desired source (no gel swabs) None
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