Carcasses and organs of dead animals
Send carcasses/samples as fast as possible (send samples by express mail/courier), ideally refrigerated (4 °C).
If carcasses or organs cannot be sent immediately (weekend), refrigeration (4 °C) is essential.
Do not freeze animal carcasses/samples as otherwise various examinations are no longer possible (histopathology and bacteriology).
Live animals
If live animals are to be euthanized and necropsied for diagnostic purposes, the pathologist on duty must be contacted in advance by telephone (+41 31 684 24 68).
Abortions
To clarify the causes of abortions in farm animals, we require
- complete afterbirth/fetal placenta (if available)
- aborted foetus
- Blood sample from the dam in cattle
Fixed organ samples for histological diagnosis
In exceptional cases, it may be useful to send fixed organ samples from deceased animals. The following must be observed:
- enclose a macroscopic necropsy report in addition to the anamnesis
- sample representative lesions
- Include the transition to healthy tissue in addition to altered areas
- Fixation in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution (note, commercially available stock solution is usually 36%, dilution: 1 part stock solution, 9 parts water)
- Sample thickness no more than 5 mm
- Organ:formalin ratio 1:10
- Shipped in 10% formalin in wide-necked, break-proof and leak-proof containers.
