Sterile swabs, specimen tubes / bottles, sterile disposable syringes with needles, vials and Petri dishes, scissors, forceps, gloves and face mask.

 Materials to be collected

1. Throat swabs / Cloacal swabs
2. Fresh droppings from migratory birds/ domestic birds.    
3. Serum samples - minimum of 0.5 ml
4. Carcass of the suspected bird on ice.

Dr. H.K Pradhan of High security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (HSADL) insists that 1-2 gram of fresh fecal sample in transport media is the best clinical sample in the case of migratory birds. Serum samples can be collected from domestic poultry around the migratory areas. From dead birds collect pieces of trachea, lung and intestinal contents in transport medium.

Transport media

Any viral transportation media can be used for the collection of samples. Sterile phosphate buffered saline of pH 7.2- 7.4 is the media of choice.  Tissue culture fluid or 50% Glycerol phosphate buffer can also be used for the collection of sample. Always ensure that the pH of the media is7.2- 7.4 since an acidic pH will destroy the virus.  After placing the sample any one of the following antibiotic should also be added to the media for preventing contamination of the sample.

1. Penicillin - 2000 units / ml
2. Streptomycin – 2 mg / ml
3. Gentamycin – 50 μg / ml.

Stringent health precautions are essential during handling of suspected ailing / dead birds for sample collection as the disease is highly contagious for humans. So it is imperative that all persons collecting samples should wear protective clothing and care should be taken that neither the veterinarian nor assistants puncture the skin of their hands.

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