Molecular Biology

Transport Medium for submitting samples is available, on request, from the laboratory.

RNA stabilisation reagent
Virus Transport Media (VTM)

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).

AHL LabFact Sampling for Finfish diseases PCR tests (PDF 138Kb)

AHL LabFact Oyster sampling including OsHV1 (PDF 68Kb)

Veterinarian Use Only

AHL LabFact Sampling birds for Avian Influenza investigation (PDF 68Kb)

Test	Sample Type	Comments
Anthrax (*) (conventional PCR)	Clotted blood, tissue or environmental sample	Please contact the AHL prior to submission
Avian influenza / Newcastle Disease (*)	Flocked tracheal (or other respiratory system) swab, and cloacal swab in virus transport medium (VTM)	VTM can be supplied by the AHL Please contact the AHL prior to submission AHL LabFact Sampling birds for Avian Influenza investigation (PDF 68Kb)
Equine influenza (*)	Flocked nasal (or other respiratory system) swab in virus transport medium (VTM)	VTM can be supplied by the AHL Please contact the AHL prior to submission
Generic RLO qPCR	Liver, kidney, spleen in RNA stabilisation reagent	RNA stabilisation reagent can be supplied by the AHL
Tasmanian Aquareovirus (TSRV)	Liver, kidney, spleen in RNA stabilisation reagent	RNA stabilisation reagent can be supplied by the AHL
Pilchard Orthomyxovirus (POMV)	Liver, kidney, spleen in RNA stabilisation reagent	RNA stabilisation reagent can be supplied by the AHL
Ostreid Herpesvirus-1 μvar	Whole chilled Pacific oysters or gill and mantle in ethanol	Please contact the AHL prior to submission
Abalone viral ganglioneuritis	Whole chilled abalone or samples containing ganglion in ethanol	Pease contact the AHL prior to submission
Covert infection prevalence testing (Yersinia ruckeri, Tenacibaculum maritimum, Aeromonas salmonicida)	Samples in enrichment broth	Enrichment broth can be supplied by AHL with a minimum of 1 week notice
Mycoplasma direct PCR	Milk	join fluid or semen can also be submitted although the testing of these samples falls outside the scope of our current accreditation
Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy (Fish Nodaviruses - Betanodavirus)	Brain or other nervous system tissue in RNA stabilisation reagent

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

Important - Tests marked (*) are a notifiable disease and considered as Prohibited Matter. Sample material is a biosecurity concern. Contact the laboratory before shipping.

Additional 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) (*)	Blood (EDTA), serum, tissues e.g. spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils or kidneys	Exotic disease - please contact the laboratory
Classical Swine Fever (CSF) (*)	Blood (EDTA) and tissues or oro-nasal 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	Ocular, pharyngeal, nasal or cloacal swabs or intestinal excrement or tissues from kidney, lung, pericardium, spleen and liver	Please contact the laboratory
Flavobacterium psychrophilum	Swab of lesion in enrichment broth	Enrichment broth supplied by the AHL with minimum of one week's notice
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) (*)	Samples as deemed appropriate by the veterinarian	Exotic disease - please contact the laboratory
Hendra	Blood (EDTA) or swabs	Please contact the laboratory
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)	Fresh tissue, swab (flocked) in VTM and semen
Johne's	Individual faecal samples in a sterile container which are pooled at the laboratory	Please contact the laboratory
Leptospira sp.	Foetal stomach fluid, abomasal content, joint fluid, urine or placental tissue	Please contact the laboratory
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)	EDTA blood, saliva, nasal secretions and tissue homogenates or skin nodules and scabs	Exotic disease - please contact the laboratory
Mycobacterium spp. (not Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex)	Swab of lesion in enrichment broth	Enrichment broth supplied by the AHL with minimum of one week's notice
Perkinsus spp. (*)	Gill and mantle tissue or pedal muscle containing gross lesions, if present.	Please contact the laboratory
Piscirickettsia salmonis / novel Piscirickettsia organisms (RLO-MH, TR, SE) qPCR	Liver, kidney, spleen in RNA stabilisation reagent	RNA stabilisation reagent can be supplied by the AHL
Tasmanian Aquabirnavirus (TABV)	Liver, kidney, spleen in RNA stabilisation reagent	RNA stabilisation reagent can be supplied by the AHL
Toxoplasma gondii	Animal tissues
Tritrichomas foetus	Bovine smegma and vaginal mucous	Please contact the laboratory
Wobbly Possum Disease	Tissues from brain, liver or spleen	Please contact the laboratory