COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS

Specimen Labelling Requirements
Specimen Collection Requirements

INTRODUCTION

In order to provide reliable results the laboratory needs to receive good quality specimens with clear unambiguous identification.

REQUEST FORM REQUIREMENTS

All Request Forms should indicate :

• · Animal name or other unique identifier
• · Name and address of owner or representative
• · Date of specimen collection
• · Type of specimen
• · Name, address and telephone number of requesting Veterinarian

TEST INFORMATION

• · Details of tests required
• · Any special instructions, e.g. fasting, urgent, phone/fax results

It is preferred that specimens for an individual animal are packed in an individual biohazard bag for that animal, together with the request form, in order to facilitate specimen identification.

SPECIMEN LABELLING REQUIREMENTS

In order to be accepted for processing by the Laboratory, each specimen container must be labelled with the animal name or other unique identifier. Where confusion with another animal is possible the container should be labelled with a second identifer.

For survey testing each specimen container must be labelled but does not need to uniquely identify each animal.

Date and time of collection is recommended for all specimens.

Glass slides should be labelled on the slide itself.

SPECIMEN COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS

HAEMATOLOGY / BIOCHEMISTRY
Specimens should be collected from calm animals wherever possible. Pretreatment and fasting specimens are preferred in order to mitigate the effects of physiological variables on the test results.

In large animals jugular venepuncture is the preferred site for large animals. Remove the stopper from the tube to fill. Do not inject through lid as this will cause haemolysis. Mix all tubes well by inversion.

Specimens should be submitted, to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection. Where possible, specimens should be submitted in individual biohazard bags. If testing is to be delayed specimens should be allowed to clot and the serum removed to a plain tube using a clean disposable pipette

Specimens should only be collected into tubes with a current expiry date. Please do not submit specimens in syringes

Refer to Menu of Tests for specific test requirements.