Sending blood tubes for CAE testing

PKBoo · #1 09/20/12, 06:08 PM

We were going to have the vet out next week to draw blood for CAE testing on our 6 mos. old Nubians.

Long story short - vet came today for a downed steer (who should be ok now!), so we had him draw blood while he was here. I wanted to learn how to do it so we could do it ourselves, but after seeing him do it... I don't think I can. He drew from the neck, and I had to hold them soooo still *shudder*...

Well, he got here late, and the visit ended up taking a LOT longer than we thought, so we weren't able to get to UPS to get the tubes shipped tonight

I have the paperwork filled out for WADDL - if I take it to UPS tomorrow morning, it should get there Saturday (but the WADDL website says to plan for packages NOT to get there on a weekend).

Is it ok for it to sit over the weekend? Or should I take it to the vet's office tomorrow so he can centrifuge it, then send it on Monday? (that's what he says they do). They usually send their samples to Penn State for testing...

This box of blood samples is sitting on the table staring at me, and I really really don't want it going to waste!

CaliannG · #2 09/20/12, 06:27 PM

It REALLY needs to be in the refridgerator!

Then, tomorrow, wrap them individually in a bunch of paper towels, put them in a zip lock bag with a few more paper towels. Write ON THE ZIPLOCK in sharpie pen "Animal Specimens", and then put them in a box with more paper towels and some ice packs...then mail them.

WADDLs, if you call them, will give you their FED-EX account number and just add the shipping charge to your bill. They get it for a lot cheaper than you can, so you should call them in the morning to to get their number and send it via Fed-Ex instead.

PKBoo · #3 09/20/12, 06:41 PM

OK- It's in the fridge! Phew!

The vet left at 6:30, so it's only been on the table for a little over an hour. The WADDL site said to let it sit for an hour at room temp, so I assume I'm ok?

I'll call WADDL in the morning - I didn't even think about that. I had a few questions about the form when I filled it out too.

THANKS so much Caliann!!!!

**mygoat** · #4 09/20/12, 06:42 PM

Put blood in the fridge. The vet should've used RED TOP tubes, or red/black speckled top tubes (serum separator). Purple tube tops WILL NOT WORK. Your blood will be just fine over the weekend to ship on Monday.

WADDL can centrifuge to separate serum, don't worry about it.

I take a piece of papertowel and tear it into about 3 strips. (I use the little 3ml blood tubes for disease testing, the bigger 10 ml tubes will need more paper towel.)I wrap each tube in paper towel strip, and secure with tape that has a little tab for easy removal. I then put all the wrapped tubes in a small qt ziplock bag and put them in the fridge.

I keep little GEL freezer packs in the freezer. When I'm packing the box right before taking it to the post office, I put an ice pack in a gallon size ziplock. I then snuggle the package of blood tubes right next to the ice pack in the gallon size ziplock, and fold it up. I then put the entire package into a styrofoam 'bait box' (for fishin' worms) which you can get cheap at your local bait shop. I then pack that styrofoam box into another cardboard box I'm sure to have laying around and pack it securely.

If you send package priority (cheaper, which is what I do), be sure to pack the blood in a styrofoam box with a gel ice pack. If you ship overnight, still use ice pack but you should be OK in a well-packed box.

Drawing blood is SUPER easy. I've been doing it for years - believe I was 15 or so the first time I drew blood - and nobody EVER taught me - I just read online how to do it. My dad restrains them and I draw. If your vet made it seem harder than it was, he's either ensuring you'll have him out next time (job security) or is inexperienced in drawing blood completely...

andabigmac · #5 09/20/12, 08:03 PM

My vet saved the boxes that his vaccines came in for me to ship samples in. They're perfect and free is my favorite price.

PKBoo · #6 09/20/12, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mygoat

Drawing blood is SUPER easy. I've been doing it for years - believe I was 15 or so the first time I drew blood - and nobody EVER taught me - I just read online how to do it. My dad restrains them and I draw. If your vet made it seem harder than it was, he's either ensuring you'll have him out next time (job security) or is inexperienced in drawing blood completely...

Thanks for the detail Donna! DH is in charge of packaging, so I read it all to him

The vet that came is a diary herd vet - he was the one in the area, so he showed up. He probably hasn't drawn blood from a goat since he was in vet school

We did learn a lot from him, so I'm glad he came. We grill every vet that comes to get the most out of the visit. AND he gave me some banamine!

Most of the vets in this practice are dairy vets - I'd love to find a good sheep/goat vet... sounds like it's a problem in many parts of the country

LoneStrChic23 · #7 09/20/12, 09:09 PM

Yep- Home blood draws are easy....

I always ran mine up to the clinic for blood & there was never room for me with the vet & his 2 assistants in there so I couldn't watch (so they said).....

Got sick of paying $30 a goat, plus shipping/testing fees....

Sat down with mom one day, watched a 3 minute Youtube video, then went out to try it.

First goat took me a while & I had 3 missed pokes before I got it right, but after that, no worries

We put them in the milk stand, mom stood up there and turned their heads/held them in place while I poked. Sent everything off to Biotracking & saved a fortune!

And this is from someone who REALLY doesn't like needles

BlueCollarBelle · #8 09/20/12, 10:08 PM

Find some videos or see if a fellow owner can show you how to do a jugular stick. A steady restrainer helps tremendously. Wetting the hair with alcohol (or even water) will help you see the correct location more easily. The many videos available do a great job of explaining and give a visual so I won't detail the method here. Remember the letters SFT...See it, Feel it, Trust it. This is a job that you can handle and it will save you a vet call. Plus, no matter how great your vet is, animals don't like the vet! They'll quickly forgive you for a little stick and won't have to stress over a stranger handling them.