Flattening the biopsy on a piece of cardboard and floating it upside down in formalin, will result in a fixed tissue that can be properly orientated by the pathologist for sectioning. If an immune-mediated skin disease is suspected, tissue blocks of the skin biopsies can be sent to WCVM for immunoperoxidase staining. Heart Submission - The heart may be submitted in its entirety, particularly if a malformation is suspected. Other Helpful Information - It is always wise to freeze and hold portions of organs,so that further tests such as virology, bacteriology, toxicology, etc. may be carried out if necessary. When submitting formalized tissues indicate whether frozen portions are being held.
Time is important as small carcasses decompose quickly.
Submit 4 to 5 live, sick birds, that are clinically affected with the condition. Take care not to select cull birds from the flock which do not represent the disease condition. These specimens should be shipped by express in containers suitable for live birds. Never freeze clotted whole blood with the expectation of using it for serology later as this will interfere with serological tests. Submit tissues in separate, labelled whirl- pack bags.