For vets

- The cat’s mouth should be free of food therefore delay sampling for an hour after the cat has eaten.
- Kittens can be tested from birth, but since they should be removed from the mother 30-60 minutes before sampling we recommend they are not tested until 2-3 weeks of age.
- A standard dry, cotton tipped swab is used (DO NOT use charcoal swabs or any swab with transport media) - this is inserted into the cat’s mouth and placed between the cheek and gums.
- The swab is then twisted several times for a few seconds to collect cells onto the swab.
- The swab is removed and immediately placed into its plastic sheath.
- The swab should be clearly labelled with the cat’s identity.
For owners

A typical plain cotton tipped swab used for taking a mouth swab
- The cat’s mouth should be free of food therefore delay sampling for an hour after the cat has eaten.
- Kittens can be tested from birth, but since they should be removed from the mother 30-60 minutes before sampling we recommend they are not tested until 2-3 weeks of age.
- A standard dry, cotton tipped swab is used.
- If using a Q-tip cut off one end and discard (do not touch the remaining cotton tip).
- Insert the cotton tip into the cat’s mouth between the cheek and gums.
- Twist the swab several times to collect the cells.
- Remove the swab from the cat’s mouth and replace in its plastic sheath (use a separate envelope or plastic bag for each Q-tip).
- Label the plastic sheath, envelope or plastic bag with the cat’s name.
Please note: The test is run on DNA extracted from the cheek cells, not on saliva. Failure to collect adequate cellular material on the swab will result in a non-diagnostic sample. The genetic test identifies if a sample is non-diagnostic, in such cases repeat sampling will be required.
A video showing how to take a good mouth swab
How to use a Q-tip

(Adobe Flash Player is required to view this video)
