Although the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) strives to process and test all samples quickly, delays occur when samples arrive at the lab in less than ideal conditions.
Here are some practices to help mitigate potential delays when submitting samples for antemortem CWD testing.
Paperwork
All antemortem CWD samples should have a thoroughly completed TWIMS form with a unique TWIMS ID listed.
What causes a delay?
TVMDL cannot sync lab results with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) without a TWIMS ID. TVMDL may also have difficulty determining other critical testing information if it’s not listed on submission paperwork. Turnaround time is increased when this information is not readily available when a sample arrives at TVMDL.
Packaging
Shipping ears
Fresh ears should not be in direct contact with formalin jars. Ears may be placed inside the jars, or bagged separately.
What causes a delay?
When fresh ears leak or are in direct contact with the outside of jars, all containers must undergo a decontamination process, thus delaying the testing process.
Shipping formalin jars
All jars should be properly sealed and bagged to contain leaks in-transit. In-transit leaks can damage the shipping container and render paperwork and on-jar identification illegible.
What causes a delay?
Shipments that leak during transit may be seized and disposed of by a courier’s hazmat team. Additionally, shipments with leaking specimens that arrive at the lab must be thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated before testing can begin.
Shipping cassettes
Submit each premise as a separate submission. TVMDL can only assign one Premise ID per submission. Additionally, ensure each cassette is properly labeled with a TWIMS ID that matches the ID on their jar(s).
What causes a delay?
Each cassette must be assigned to a client. Cassettes that aren’t labeled or have illegible labels require additional processing time for technicians to determine their associated premise.
Shipping
Shipping via USPS
When possible, use a courier service such as FedEx or UPS to ship samples to TVMDL. This practice ensures samples arrive at the lab quickly and in a testable condition.
What causes a delay?
Due to the lab’s on-campus location, all shipments sent to College Station via USPS must be sorted through a campus postal hub. Processing times at this hub varies due to the university schedule, staffing, and other variables. Samples sent through USPS frequently arrive at TVMDL in an untestable condition due to the time it takes to arrive at the lab.
Additional Practices
Follow the shipping guidelines listed on the TVMDL website for antemortem CWD samples.
- At a minimum, this includes:
- Labeling each cassette with a TWIMS ID.
- Shipping fresh tissues/ears with cold packs.
- Bagging specimens to maintain the integrity of paperwork and the shipping container.
- Including absorbent shipping material to protect paperwork and the shipping container in the event of a leak.