Sampling Guide | Racing Pigeon Test Sample Collection

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Before sampling

• Prepare disposable sterile gloves, sterile swabs, sealable bags and a marker pen
• Put on clean disposable latex or nitrile gloves before touching any material or pigeon
• Between birds, disinfect the gloves thoroughly with 75% alcohol and let them dry completely before continuing

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Sample labelling

• Label clean sealable bags with the pigeon details in advance (owner name, ring number, breed)
• Strictly one pigeon per bag — seal each bird separately to prevent cross-contamination between samples

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Collection methods (choose according to the test requested)

• Throat/choanal swab: gently scrape the mucosal secretions of the throat with a sterile swab
• Cloacal swab: insert a sterile swab into the cloaca and rotate it to collect mucosal secretions
• Faecal sample: collect fresh droppings, avoiding contact with contaminated ground
• Oral swab: collect lesions or secretions from the mouth and crop (trichomoniasis, candida testing)
• Lesion tissue: collect tissue from pox lesions, ulcers and other affected sites
• Ocular/nasal secretions: collect conjunctival or nasal secretions (respiratory pathogen testing)

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Sample storage and shipping

• Place each sample into its pre-labelled bag immediately after collection, so it does not come into contact with anything outside the bag
• Short term (within 7 days): store at room temperature and ship as soon as possible
• Longer term (over 7 days): freeze at -20 °C or lower
• For shipping, place the individual sealed bags inside an outer bag, then pack them in a sturdy cardboard box
• Mark the sender name and the laboratory address clearly on the outside of the box

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Final checks

• Check sample numbers and labels against your internal records (the bag label must match the pigeon ring number)
• Complete and enclose the sample submission form (contact details, pigeon identifiers, tests requested)
• Send by a reliable courier such as DHL, FedEx or UPS
• The laboratory will contact you to confirm receipt before testing starts

Choosing the sample type by test

Test	Recommended sample	Notes
Respiratory pathogen testing	Throat swab / conjunctival swab	Gently scrape throat and conjunctival secretions
Digestive tract pathogen testing	Cloacal swab / fresh droppings	Rotate to collect mucosal secretions; avoid contact with contaminated ground
Trichomonas / Candida testing	Oral swab / crop contents	Collect lesions or secretions from the mouth and crop
Pox lesion testing	Lesion tissue / scab	Collect tissue from pox lesions and ulcers
Genetic testing / DNA ID	Feather with intact root / blood card / oral swab	Feathers must have an intact root; keep the sample dry

Key precautions

⚠️ Always avoid cross-contamination between samples from different pigeons

⚠️ Use fresh feathers with an intact root (genetic testing) or properly collected swabs (pathogen testing)

⚠️ Keep samples dry and store them separately

⚠️ Make sure you collect a sufficient amount of sample

⚠️ Label every sample and its corresponding information clearly

⚠️ When collecting, avoid touching the parts of the sample that matter for testing

Frequently asked questions

How long can a sample be kept at room temperature?

Short term (within 7 days) room-temperature storage with prompt shipping is fine; beyond 7 days freeze at -20 °C or lower, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Can samples from several pigeons go into one bag?

No. Use one pigeon per bag, sealed separately, to prevent cross-contamination that could mix up results.

What are the requirements for feather samples?

Feathers for genetic testing must have an intact root (follicle) and should be plucked rather than cut; keep the sample dry and bag it separately.

How soon should samples be shipped?

The sooner the better — ideally the same day or the next day, to keep time at room temperature to a minimum.

If you have any questions during sampling, our technical support team is happy to help.

Contact technical support Back to pathogen testing