- Prepare your bird by cleaning a suitable toenail with rubbing alcohol. Select a toenail of sufficient size that will give a drop of blood when cut. Wipe the toenail with an alcohol wetted paper towel or swab. Let air dry for 1-2 minutes.
- Write the bird ID or name on the blood collection card. Also be certain to complete the Order Form for each sample submitted so that the bird ID on the card matches the bird ID on the Order Form.
- Clip the toenail slightly behind the edge of the nail bed so that mild bleeding occurs. Be sure to use a clipper that has been thoroughly cleaned with alcohol prior to use.
- Hold or milk the bird's foot above the bleeding nail so that a drop of blood forms at the end of the cut nail. When a sufficiently large drop of blood collects at the end of the nail, touch the blood drop to the circled area of the blood collection card.
Best testing results are obtained when a little blood soaks all the way through the card to the reverse side: this may require collecting two or three drops of blood if the blood drops are small. Try not to touch or otherwise contaminate the circled area of the card as this may introduce DNA from another bird, which may adversely affect the test results.
ONLY ONE (1) BIRD BLOOD SAMPLE PER BLOOD COLLECTION CARD!
The toenail will normally stop bleeding by itself within a few minutes. If bleeding is persistent, put pressure on the nail bed by holding a clean dry gauze pad, paper towel or tissue on the nail for several minutes.
- Air dry the blood spotted card for 30-60 minutes. Place each dried blood card back into the small plastic bag the card came in originally. Seal the plastic bag and store at room temperature until ready to mail. The blood spotted card may be stored in the plastic bag for up to one month prior to submission for testing. Many samples may be collected over time and batch mailed when convenient.
- Mail include the blood sample card, Test Order Form and payment for the test(s).
Testing cannot be performed without pre-payment. Testing will be performed within 72 hours of receipt of sample.
Please indicate on the Order Form how you wish to receive results - via mail, phone, e-mail or fax. Certificates of Test Results suitable for framing are also available free of charge. If you wish to receive a Certificate, simply indicate your request on the Order Form. Certificates will be mailed within one (1) week after completion of the test.
Occasionally a blood spot may not contain enough DNA for successful DNA testing. We will be happy to repeat the test with a new blood sample for no additional charge or credit your payment to another bird's test submission.
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