College of Veterinary Medicine

Avian Influenza Sampling and Shipping Guide for Disease Incident

Updated: October 17th, 2025

Purpose

This guide outlines how to collect, package, and ship avian influenza samples for ADDL diagnostic testing during a disease incident. It is intended for veterinary professionals and incident sampling teams.

Contact & Delivery

Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL)
406 S. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2065

Phone: 765-494-7440
For courier delivery: Please call when the driver reaches the edge of Lafayette (10–15 minutes’ notice). Keep paperwork outside the shipper.

Supplies

  • ADDL Commercial Poultry Incident Submission Form (prepopulated)
  • Premises ID Barcode Labels
  • Shipping Contents Form
  • Black Ink Pen
  • Fine-Tipped Black Sharpie
  • Clear Packing Tape
  • Masking Tape
  • Double Gloves
  • Lysol Spray Can
  • Lysol Wipes
  • BHI Broth Tubes - 5.5 ml broth tubes for pooling 11 samples
    • Available from NVSL
  • Sterile Polyester Swabs - DO NOT use cotton swabs or wooden handles
  • Small and Large Ziploc Bags or Similar Plastic Bags
  • Plastic Bag for Submission Paperwork
  • Insulated Shipping Container - Insulated shipping bags are preferred as they take up less space when sending samples with the courier or hand delivering.
  • Frozen Gel Packs
  • Bulk Filling Material/Padding (if shipping) and Absorptive Material
  • Shipping Label or Company Label (depending on transport method)

 Process

  • Complete ADDL Commercial Poultry Incident Form
  • Complete Shipping Contents Form
    • Numbers help ADDL sort and account for contents in the shipping container
    • Numbers will be used by BOAH to monitor testing activity
      • The "Total Number of Tubes" and the "Number of Premises" will be the information communicated to BOAH following sections
  • Prepare Supplies
    • Label BHI broth tubes with house number/ID(Sharpie)
      • If using PIN barcode labels, ensure they are sticking
        • Cover with clear packing tape to secure and waterproof
    • Gather swabs - have an extra swab for each house in case of contamination
    • Label Plastie Bags - Primary Bag (all tubes from one building)+ Secondary Bag (hold all primary bags for one premises)
      • Company/Owner/Location/Site
      • Premises ID Barcode Label
      • Covering labels with clear packing tape will preserve and waterproof
  • Collect Samples
  • Pack and Ship/Deliver
    • ADDL is open Monday- Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
      • Samples need to be received before 11 am to ensure results at 5 pm
    • Refer to "USDA Preparing Diagnostic Specimens for Shipment"
    • Plastic bags from the inside out:
      • Each labeled tube goes into a primary plastic bag that has a PIN barcode label and house ID
        • One bag per house/barn/structure on a premises
      • Each primary plastic bag of tubes for the premises will go into a secondary bag that holds all samples from one premises.
        • This secondary plastic bag will also need to be labeled with premises/company/site information.
        • Labeling tubes and bags: If submitting samples from multiple premises, please mark (with a sharpie or pen) at the top of the submission forms a consecutive count of numbers (1,2,3, etc.) and mark the corresponding bag of samples with the same number. This will help speed up identifying samples for the labeling process at ADDL.
      • All secondary plastic bags (multiple premises) will be placed into the insulated shipping container
      • The Insulated Shipping Container (should be inside a cardboard box)
      • To Pack:
        • Place gel ice packs on the bottom of the insulated shipping container
        • Place all secondary plastic bag sets on top of the ice
        • Fill all empty spaces with bulk and absorptive material to prevent movement and moisture buildup during shipping
          • Bulk materials: bubble wrap, plastic air bags, newspaper
        • Cover the container with an insulated lid
        • Place submission forms in a plastic bag on top of the insulated lid (below the cardboard lid)
          • Tape the completed "Shipping Contents Form" to the bag
          • If hand-delivering samples, paperwork should be kept separate from samples. Hand paperwork to ADDL staff upon arrival at the lab.
        • Close the cardboard lid and tape it shut with packing tape
        • Attach "UN3373: Category B Substances" sticker to the side of the box
        • Draw a big red star on the outside of the box to make it easy to ID
        • Write the company name on the outside of the box
        • Attach the shipping label if being shipped by courier and not hand-delivered
          • Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 406 S. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2025
        • Delivery to Purdue ADDL
          • Have samples packaged the same as described above
            • Keep paperwork outside the shipper
          • Call ADDL (765-494-7440) when the driver reaches the edge of Lafayette (10-15 minute heads up)
          • Drive samples to the back loading dock of ADDL
            • DO NOT bring samples through the front door
          • You will hand off the entire shipper, and it WILL NOT be returned
  • Communicate Sampling Information with BOAH and ADDL
    • Designate a company contact for the lab. This person is the one the lab will reach out to if there are any questions related to sample submission (paperwork, Prem IDs, specimens/tubes).
      • Generally, this person will be in contact with Dr. Bowen
      • Email addlhpai@purdue.edu the afternoon before or no later than 7:00 AM the day of to ADDL
        • A scanned PDF file with all of the completed submission forms that are on their way to the diagnostic lab.  This will greatly improve the turnaround time for results if we can have the paperwork before the samples arrive at ADDL
        • Be sure to include delivery details in the body of the email along with sampling counts (example below):
          • Delivery Route and Time: BOAH Courier or UPS Overnight (if you can include the tracking number - great; also put a big RED STAR on the outside of the box)
          • Total Fams Samples: 16
          • Total Tubes Submitted: 80
    • Phone: 765-494-7440 - ADDL West Lafayette main line
      • Please call with any questions
      • After-hours emergency calls or during the day can reach out to Dr. Bowen directly,
        • Dr. Craig Bowen: 765-237-9188
  • Reports
    • Reports will automatically be sent to BOAH
    • Reports will be faxed and /or emailed to your company

Biosecurity

  • Submission Form + Shipping Contents sheet
    • Complete in the office and never enter an animal area
    • Store separately from samples in a plastic one-gallon Ziploc bag
      • Outside the cooler in a plastic bag if being hand delivered
      • On top of the cooler and below the cardboard in a plastic bag if being shipped
  • Sample Tubes
    • Wipe or spray down with Lysol before placing in the primary plastic bag
  • Ziploc/Plastic Bag
    • Primary bag around tubes
      • Wipe down or spray with Lysol before placing in the secondary bag
    • Secondary Bag
      • Keep clean and outside the animal area
        • Wipe down or spray with Lysol before placing in the shipping container

Related Documents to Avian Influenza Sampling Guide:

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