A third option would be to centrifuge the sample. After centrifuging, draw off the supernatent and send the concentrated sample to the diagnostic lab. The lung lavage technique can also be done on live animals. This is adequately demonstrated by Dr. Mengeling in the lavage tape. The live animal is first sedated and then intubated with a plastic tube for the lavage with either PBS, cell culture media, or physiologic saline.
Special equipment is required for lung lavage in the live animal.
Equipment necessary would be an anesthetic solution which is detailed in the tape, plastic tubing, a wire stillet, and a laryngoscope, as well as some water soluble lubricant. The lung lavage is a new technique that offers the practitioner a diagnostic tool to isolate PRRS virus that can be further differentiated with the PCR restriction digest differential assay. Conventional freezing and thawing is potentially more detrimental to the sample as opposed to refrigeration. The entire sample can be sent in the collection container to the diagnostic lab chilled on ice for overnight delivery. 1998, Boehringer Ingelheim NOBL Web Site design by Integrated Media, Inc.