We suggest that you do not mail samples on Fridays.

Faeces Collection -  Worm, Coccidiosis, & Fluke Tests

Collection

• For standard worm and coccidiosis tests you should supply approximately one heaped teaspoon of fresh faeces per animal. At a bare minimum we require at least 4 grams of faeces (per animal) for cattle, horses and camels, and 2 grams of faeces for other livestock.
• For larval culture analysis we require an extra 20 g of fresh faeces. This material should never be frozen, and should be as fresh as possible (do not retain for more than a few days). Material for horse larval culture should not be refrigerated. Usually larval cultures are performed for a pooled group of ~ 10 animals following worm/coccidiosis testing, so if you follow the "heaped teaspoon" guideline above then we should already have enough. If you require a larval culture for individual animals (such as horses) or smaller groups then you may need to include more faeces.
• Collect only fresh samples. Older, harder or drier samples are harder to assess and will lead to inaccurate results.
• For testing groups of animals we recommend submitting 10 fresh faecal samples for each herd/mob/flock. We can perform individual counts for each of the 10 samples, or one bulk count for the group. For the latter we will combine the 10 samples, or you may submit one pooled sample for the group. Bulk counts are cheaper and will show the average count across the group, while individual counts will an idea of the spread of infection across animals within the group.
• For sheep sample collection it is often practical to move the mob into a clean corner of the yard and leave them for 5 minutes. Then move the animals away and collect 10 fresh samples from the ground.
• Please keep material refrigerated (but not frozen) if there is a delay between collection and mailing, unless you require horse larval cultures as refrigeration will reduce the viability of the horse worm eggs. If the samples are kept too long at room temperature then the eggs may start to hatch and test results will be inaccurate.

Mailing

• Please place no more than one teaspoonful of faeces in each small bag or collection tube. Please do not overfill (do not fill to the brim) or the material will expand in the post and the tubes will leak!
• Please seal all the bags and then pack carefully.
• Keep your paperwork (submission forms) separate from the samples, as the forms may become soggy and unreadable if the samples leak.
• If sending more than one group, up to 5 mobs may be entered on the submission form.
• If the weather is hot an ice brick will help keep the samples fresh and prevent worm eggs from hatching. For larger numbers of samples you may elect to send the samples in a polystyrene foam box or Esky to keep them cooler.
• Fit as many samples in one satchel as possible (to reduce cost), or tape or tie envelopes securely together, leaving one address label clearly visible.
• If your samples are urgent, consider sending by Express Post. These samples will be given a higher priority.

Special Note For Drench Resistance Tests:

• The youngest animals on the property should be tested.
• Before drenching submit a bulk worm egg test (group count) to ensure that there are a minimum of 300 worm eggs per gram of faeces (epg) present.
• Test again 10-12 days after drenching, collect 10 faecal samples from each group of 15 animals. This allows for some individuals that may not produce samples.
• Collect samples directly from the animals, not the ground, to avoid contamination with microscopic worm eggs which will still be lying on the ground.

ELISA Tests for Fluke - Blood and Milk Samples

Milk

• Using a clean, unused 15 mL sample tube, collect 5-10 mL milk from under the cream layer from the milk vat. Avoid collecting the cream layer as this is not used in the test and decreases test efficacy.
• Hygiene is critical, as contaminated samples can give inaccurate readings. Use only clean, unused collection tubes.
• It is important that the tube is filled no more than 75%, especially if it is going to be frozen.
• Seal the tube tightly and keep chilled at all times.
• If there is a delay in mailing the samples, or if the weather is hot, you may consider freezing the samples before sending. If so, ensure that the sample tubes are frozen upright and that the lids are loose to avoid the tubes cracking. Tighten the lids once the samples have frozen.
• If there are multiple test groups or vats, label the tubes clearly to indicate which they represent.
• Ensure the lids are secured tightly before mailing. Place the samples in a sealable bag, one test group per bag.
• Include an ice brick with the samples. Remember to include your paperwork and to label tubes clearly if there are multiple groups.
• Send the samples by express post or courier.

Blood

• We recommend you collect at least 10 samples from a herd, and submit these as two groups of five for more accurate testing. We will then pool the 5 samples and perform two tests per herd.
• Collect at least 1 mL per animal, into a non-coagulating blood collection tube. Seal the tubes tightly.
• Label tubes clearly to indicate which herd ID and sample pool they belong to.
• Allow the tubes to stand for 2-3 hours at room temperature. This enables the clots to retract and squeeze out the serum.
• Then place the samples in a refrigerator and keep chilled at all times.
• Ensure the lids are secured tightly before mailing. Place the samples in a sealable bag, one test group per bag.
• Include an ice brick with the samples. Remember to include your paperwork and to label tubes clearly if there are multiple groups.
• Send the samples by express post or courier.

Pinworm Testing for Horses

• Pinworm eggs are laid on the exterior of the horse's anus, so they aren't usually detected with a standard faeces test.
• You will require three pieces of clear, colourless sticky tape / adhesive tape / sellotape.
• Place a piece of sticky tape on the skin around the perimeter of the animal's anus and over the end of the sphincter. Take care to ensure that the tape gets into the folds/wrinkles of skin, as these are common places for pinworm eggs to attach.
• Remove the tape and fold it exactly in half so that the outside is no longer sticky.
• Repeat the procedure with two more pieces of tape, in different positions around the anus.
• Place the three pieces of tape in an envelope, include paperwork, and mail to us for analysis. We will perform microscopic analysis of the tape for the presence of pinworm egg
• To test for drench efficacy: First test before drenching to confirm that pinworms are present. Administer the drench then wait 2 weeks before re-testing. Before performing the second test, you should thoroughly wash the skin around the animal's anus and sphincter. This is to ensure that any eggs detected are fresh, as pinworm eggs may remain attached to the skin for long periods of time and could give a false positive.

Water Collection - Algae Tests

Collect samples of algal scum from the water surface.
We suggest that you wear plastic gloves for the collection, to avoid skin contact with algae, some species of which may possibly induce skin irritation.
As algal samples can rapidly deteriorate - post samples on same day of collection.
Please seal the containers tightly, wind the cotton wool round the outside of each tube and close the pack carefully.