Recommended samples for the PCR tests offered
| Disease/organism | Samples |
| Anaplasma phagocytophilum (granulocytic ehrlichiosis) |
0.5 ml EDTA blood tube |
| Babesia species (babesiosis/ piroplasmosis) |
0.5 ml EDTA blood tube |
| Bartonella species |
0.5 ml EDTA blood tube and/or tissue aspirates in EDTA tube and/or fresh tissue biopsy material* |
| Bartonella henselae | 0.5 ml EDTA blood tube and/or tissue aspirates in EDTA tube and/or fresh tissue biopsy material* |
| Borrelia species | 0.5 ml synovial fluid in EDTA tube and /or 0.5 ml EDTA blood tube |
| Ehrlichia species | 0.5 ml EDTA blood tube |
| Leishmania species | 0.5 ml EDTA blood tube and/or lymph node aspirates in EDTA tube and/or splenic aspirates in EDTA tube and/or bone marrow aspirates/biopsy in EDTA tube and/or fresh tissue biopsy material* and /or conjunctival swabs ** |
| All other organisms | Contact lab for advice on sample |
* Fresh biopsy material should be placed on saline soaked gauze material in a sterile container to keep moist and container should then be sealed. Formalin fixed specimens are not recommended in the first instance.
** Conjunctival swabs should be moistened with sterile saline before use. After collection, the end should be cut off and placed in a sterile container to keep moist and container should then be sealed.
Other sample types e.g. CSF, ticks, fleas, formalin fixed samples, can be tested after discussion with the lab.
Care should be taken to mix the blood efficiently as the efficacy of the tests will be reduced if clotting occurs. Samples should be submitted in a leak-proof secondary container within in a sealed, padded (Jiffy) bag with a submission form. If samples are being sent from abroad please use the DEFRA import licences.
The delivery address for samples is:
Acarus
Diagnostic Laboratories
Langford Veterinary Services
Churchill Building
Langford House
Langford
Bristol
BS40 5DU UK
Please ensure that all the sample tubes are double wrapped and that absorbent material is included in the inner wrapping to minimise the risk of contamination.