Molecular Biology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Transport Medium for submitting samples is available, on request, from the laboratory.
  • RNAlater ™​
  • Avian Influenza Surveillance Medium
  • Newcastle Disease Surveillance Medium

  

Submitting Procedures

Dispatch samples as soon as possible to the Animal Health Laboratory.

Note: RNA is VERY labile. Samples must be dispatched as soon as practicable (within 24 hours). 

 

Test

Sample type

Comments

​Anthrax (b)
(conventional PCR)

​Clotted blood, tissue or environmental sample
Avian Influenza / Newcastle disease (a)Trachea, or other respiratory system, ​​swab and cloacal swabs in virus transport medium (VTM)VTM can be supplied by AHL
Equine Influenza  (a)Nasal, or other respiratory system, swab in virus transport medium (VTM)VTM can be supplied by AHL
Tasmanian Rickettsia-like Organism (RLO)Liver, kidney, spleen in RNAlater™
RNAlater™ can be supplied by AHL
  AHL LabFact POMV TSRV RLO PCR   (196Kb) 
​Tasmanian Aquareovirus (TSRV)
​Liver, kidney, spleen in RNAlaterTM
​RNAlaterTM can be supplied by AHL.
  AHL LabFact POMV TSRV RLO PCR   (196Kb)
​Pilchard Orthomyxovirus (POMV)
​Liver, kidney, spleen in RNAlater™
​RNAlater™ can be supplied by AHL
  AHL LabFact POMV TSRV RLO PCR   (196Kb)
Ostreid Herpesvirus μ-1 (b)
Whole chilled Pacific oysters or gill and mantle in ethanolPlease contact the AHL prior to submissions
Abalone viral ganglioneuritis (b)Whole chilled abalone or samples containing ganglion in ethanolPlease contact the AHL prior to submission
Covert infection prevalence testing (Yersinia ruckeri, Tenacibaculum maritimum, Aeromonas salmonicida)Samples in enrichment brothEnrichment broth supplied by AHL with minimum 1 week notice.
Mycoplasma direct PCRMilk
Joint fluid or semen can also be submitted although the testing of these samples falls outside our current scope of accreditation.

Chytrid
(B. dendrobatidis) PCR

Dry swab of skinPlease contact the AHL prior to submission

​Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy (b)
(Fish Nodaviruses - Betanodavirus)

​Brain or other nervouse system tissue in RNA later


Please contact the AHL to request virus transport media prior to sampling or when submitting these samples.

 (A) - List A notifiable diseases

 (B) - ​List B notifiable diseases (endemic to Australia)

Addition tests are carried out at the laboratory but are not covered by our current scope of accreditation.​​​​​ ​

​​Test​

​Sample Type

​Comments

​African Swine Fever (ASF) (A)
​Blood, serum, tissues e.g. spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils or kidneys
​Exotic disease - please contact the laboratory
​Classical Swine Fever (CSF) (A)
​Blood and tissues or oro-nasl swabs

​​Exotic disease - please contact the laboratory.

​Bonamia spp.
​Gill and heart tissues
​Please contact the laboratory
​BVD PCR

Milk, other tissues
​Please contact the laboratory
Chlamydia abortus ​

​​Foetal stomach fluid, abomasal content, joint fluid or placental tissue​

​Chlamydia psittaci (B)
​Ocular, pharyngeal, nasal or cloacal swabs
or
intestinal excrement
or
tissues from kidney, lung, pericardium, spleen and liver

​Please contact the laboratory
​Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) (A)

​Samples as deemed appropriate by the veterinarian

​Exotic disease - please contact the laboratory

Perkinsus spp. (A)
​Gill and mantle tissue or pedal muscle containing gross lesions, if present.
​Please contact the laboratory
​Leptospira sp.

​​Foetal stomach fluid, abomasal content, joint fluid​, urine or placental tissue​


Contact

Animal Health Laboratory - Specimen Reception
(Postal) PO Box 46
KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249
(Delivery) 165 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6777 2111
Email: specimenreception@nre.tas.gov.au
Website: http://www.nre.tas.gov.au/AHLabs