Where to submit a tick for piroplasmiosis testing? - briefly
Ticks should be dispatched to a certified veterinary diagnostic laboratory that offers piroplasmiosis screening, such as the USDA‑ARS National Veterinary Services Laboratory or a university veterinary pathology service. Samples must be placed on ice, labeled with collection data, and accompanied by a completed testing request form.
Where to submit a tick for piroplasmiosis testing? - in detail
Submitting a tick for piroplasmiosis diagnostics requires selecting a laboratory that offers validated molecular or microscopic assays for Babesia and Theileria species. The following points outline the essential steps and suitable facilities.
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Accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Many national veterinary services maintain reference units equipped for tick‑borne pathogen testing. Examples include the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA‑APHIS) Veterinary Services Laboratory, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, and the United Kingdom’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) National Reference Laboratory. Contact the relevant agency to obtain a submission form and shipping instructions.
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University‑affiliated research centers. Institutions with parasitology or vector‑biology programs often provide testing for external samples. Notable examples are the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University, the Institute of Parasitology at the University of Edinburgh, and the Center for Vector‑Borne Disease Research at the University of Pretoria. Researchers typically require a signed material transfer agreement and a brief description of the tick’s origin.
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Commercial diagnostic providers. Companies such as IDEXX Laboratories, VETSCAN, and Zoetis offer tick‑borne disease panels that include piroplasm detection. Services are accessed through online portals; samples are sent to regional processing hubs following the provider’s packaging guidelines.
Sample preparation and packaging
- Place individual ticks in sterile, leak‑proof containers (e.g., 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes).
- Add a small volume of 70 % ethanol if DNA preservation is required; otherwise, keep ticks dry and frozen at –20 °C.
- Include a label with collection date, geographic coordinates, host species, and any visible abnormalities.
- Seal containers in secondary packaging with absorbent material and a cold‑pack if frozen specimens are used.
- Complete the laboratory’s submission form, providing a unique identifier for each tick.
Documentation and regulatory compliance
- Provide a completed request form that specifies the diagnostic method (PCR, qPCR, microscopy, or sequencing).
- Attach a chain‑of‑custody statement if the sample is part of a legal investigation.
- Verify that the shipment complies with national and international transport regulations for biological specimens (e.g., IATA Category B).
Turn‑around time and result reporting
- Accredited reference laboratories typically return results within 7–14 days for PCR assays and up to 21 days for culture‑based methods.
- Reports include species identification, genotype information (if applicable), and recommendations for further clinical management.
By following the outlined procedures and selecting a certified facility, the tick can be processed efficiently, ensuring reliable detection of piroplasm agents.