Contact your local CFIA District Office if there is a suspicion of Avian Influenza in a flock.
- Specimens should be collected using swabs with a synthetic tip (e.g., polyester or Dacron) and an aluminum or plastic shaft. Swabs with wooden shaft and cotton tips are not suitable for testing. Commercial swabs containing agar media are not acceptable.
- The swab specimen collection vials should contain 1-3ml of viral transport medium (e.g., containing, protein stabilizer, antibiotics to discourage bacterial and fungal growth, and buffer solution). The vials should be leak-proof (secure cap).
- There are commercial sample collection kits available, such as BD universal viral transport system from Fisher Scientific (catalog number B220531).
- PDS has a limited amount of sample collection kits available at a cost. Please contact the PDS Diagnostic Services Office at (306) 966-7316 for more information.
Sample Collection Instructions for AIV only
- Ideally, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs should be collected. If this is not possible, the preferred sample for poultry is oropharyngeal swabs, and cloacal swabs for waterfowl.
- Collect swab and place in media, making sure the swab has good contact with the media, then remove and discard the swab.
- Pooled swabs from up to 5 birds per vial are acceptable. Each pool should contain oropharyngeal OR cloacal swabs (do not mix them). Label the vial with Oropharyngeal or Cloacal, as appropriate.
- Secure vial cap on media tube, disinfect the tube, and place the tube in a clean bag (double-bag if possible). Disinfect the outside of the bag as well.
- Samples must be kept at 4°C and shipped as soon as possible to the lab. Please include ice packs in the package.
- Package Avian samples in a separate package from all other submissions.
- Attach the submission form to the outside of the package and indicate “AIV suspect” or “AIV monitoring” in the history section.
- Turnaround time: Monday to Friday, 24 – 48 hours after sample receipt.