How should a mite be properly submitted for analysis? - briefly
Place the mite in a ventilated container with a moist substrate, label it with collection details, and ship on ice to the diagnostic laboratory within 24 hours. Include a brief description of the host and collection site on the accompanying submission form.
How should a mite be properly submitted for analysis? - in detail
Submitting a mite for laboratory examination requires a systematic approach to preserve specimen integrity and provide accurate identification.
Collect the specimen with a fine‑pointed tool such as a dissecting needle or soft brush. Place the mite into a small, labeled vial containing 70 % ethanol; ethanol concentration should be verified with a calibrated hydrometer. If live observation is needed, transfer the mite to a moist chamber (e.g., a Petri dish with damp cotton) and seal the container to prevent desiccation.
Label the container clearly with the following information:
- Collector’s name and affiliation
- Date and time of collection
- Exact location (GPS coordinates or detailed description)
- Host organism (if applicable)
- Preliminary identification or suspected species
After labeling, store the vial at 4 °C if analysis will be delayed beyond 24 hours. For molecular work, replace ethanol with a nucleic‑acid preservation solution (e.g., RNAlater) and keep the sample frozen at –20 °C or lower.
When shipping, place the sealed vial in a secondary container with absorbent material to contain any leaks. Include a cold pack if the receiving laboratory requires chilled specimens. Complete any required customs or regulatory documentation, specifying that the material is a biological sample for diagnostic purposes.
Upon receipt, the laboratory will:
- Verify label data against the accompanying submission form.
- Rinse the specimen in sterile saline to remove excess preservative.
- Mount the mite on a slide using a suitable medium (e.g., Hoyer’s or lactophenol) for microscopic examination.
- Conduct morphological identification using standard keys; if DNA analysis is requested, extract genetic material following validated protocols.
Adhering to these steps ensures the mite remains in optimal condition for accurate morphological and molecular assessment.