Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System
PADLS User Guide Tests Avian Serology
Next | Previous

9.6 Avian Serology

The majority of the tests conducted by PADLS are on serum samples from commercial poultry flocks in association with the Avian Influenza Monitoring Program and the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) testing requirements. NPIP certification requires Salmonella and Mycoplasma serology on 10% of the flock or 300 birds, whichever is greater. Please contact BAHDS for additional information on this program. The remainder of the tests conducted are associated with:

1. regulatory testing required for interstate shipment, sales and exhibit,
2. surveillance testing for diseases, e.g., avian influenza,
3. diagnostic testing from birds submitted to the laboratory for necropsy,
4. flock serologic profiling.

Please contact the individual laboratories for additional information.

Avian serology testing requires appropriate amounts of uncontaminated, non-hemolyzed sera. Sample collection technique and timely submission significantly impact laboratory results. Poor quality sera may be reported as non-testable. The following outline is provided to assist poultry servicemen/veterinarians in proper blood collection/serum submission. Contact the laboratory for proper submission forms and blood collection tubes.

1. Collect 2 to 3 ml of blood aseptically from wing vein.
2. Transfer blood to a clean, dust-free tube (most blood tubes equal 5 ml.).
3. Stopper or seal the tube with tape and place in a horizontal position for several hours, either in a 37 C incubator or in a warm place.
4. Leave the samples in an upright position at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight.
5. Submit these samples to the laboratory as soon as possible, or pour the serum into a clean, sealed vial.
6. Submit a minimum of 1.0 ml of serum when requesting multiple tests.
7. Fill out the proper specimen submission form, include all requested information.
8. If possible, the samples should be sent refrigerated, using an overnight courier service.
9. Contact the laboratory to make special test arrangements for export or sale samples or when holidays interrupt the normal test schedule.
10. The laboratory reserves the right to determine the suitability of a specimen for testing.

Note: Samples should be sent to arrive at least by 2:00 PM the day before the laboratory test day. Turnaround time is based on one-time testing with a negative result. Suspect samples will be retested requiring additional time.

[ PADLS Home | User Guide - Contents | E-mail info ]