Oral Fluid Sample
Collection Guide
A guide to more comprehensive, noninvasive
sample collection for disease monitoring and
surveillance in commercial pig herds
Oral Fluid Sample Collection Guide
Oral Fluid Testing
Supplies
Testing of swine oral fluids represents a convenient and
cost-effective tool for disease monitoring and surveillance
in commercial pig herds.1 Groups of pigs can be collectively
surveyed for exposure to diseases such as porcine
reproductive and respiratory (PRRS) virus by collecting the
oral fluids deposited when the pigs chew on a rope hanging
within the pen.
The supplies needed are simple and inexpensive to acquire and may be
ordered through IDEXX (IDEXX Oral Fluid Collection Kit). In the absence
of the kit, the following is a list of recommended materials for oral fluid
sample collection:
This method provides a more comprehensive picture of
the herd status compared to sampling individual pigs
by bleeding a random selection of the herd. It is also a
noninvasive means of sample collection.
The new IDEXX PRRS OF Ab Test is a sensitive
same-day test for PRRS antibody detection that
supports the emerging use of oral fluids for frequent
surveillance of pig herds. Call IDEXX Customer
Support at +1 800 548 9997 for product information.
•Undyed, unbleached, 3-strand twisted 100% cotton rope; 1/2 in. (1.3 cm)
diameter for nursery, grow/finish and adult pigs.
Before hanging, rope base should be unwound to encourage pigs to
interact with the strands.
•A new plastic bag, single-use plastic boot or semen collection bag to
collect oral fluids.
•A postmortem knife or scissors to cut bag and drain oral fluids.
•Snap-cap, screw-top or red-top tubes to hold collected samples.
Sample tubes include those with a cap. However, the tubes must not
contain additives such as EDTA or heparin. If glass blood collection
tubes are used, choose only red-top tubes (without additives).
•A permanent marker to label tubes.
•Disposable gloves to prevent contamination of the rope or oral fluid
samples.
•An optional bracket or other durable extension to suspend rope farther
into the pen and facilitate more pigs interacting with the rope.
A bracket may be used if pigs untie the rope from the pen dividers. Also,
brackets are useful for sequential collections. The type of bracket or how
it is hung may need to be modified depending on the layout of pens and
pen dividers. Tools may be needed to secure the brackets.
Oral Fluid Collection Steps
1
Collection Rope Setup
• Place rope in a clean area of the pen divider or gate, away from feed or water.
•Hang 1 rope per pen of 30 or fewer pigs. In larger groups, distribute multiple ropes in different areas of
the pen. Each oral fluid sample collected should represent 20–30 pigs. Pooling of oral fluid samples
is not recommended. When monitoring a barn of pigs every 2 weeks, collect oral fluid samples from
the same pens each time. This reduces variation in results due to between-pen differences. For further
sampling information, please talk to your IDEXX representative about the IDEXX PRRS monitoring guides.
• Rope(s) should hang at pig shoulder height when tied to pen divider.
• Hitch or tie the rope to the bracket or penning and unravel the strands.
2
Collection Rope Exposure Time
• Oral fluids will be absorbed as pigs chew on ropes.
•Ropes should remain in the pens for 20–30 minutes to ensure adequate exposure to
the majority of the pigs in the pen.
•If a rope becomes untied/lands on the floor, discard it and hang a new rope for
sample collection.
3
Sample Extraction
• Wear disposable gloves to prevent contamination of oral fluid samples.
• Insert the wet end of the rope into a clean plastic boot or bag.
•Strip the rope so the fluid accumulates in the corner of the bag or flows into the tube, if the tube is
connected to the bag.
4
Transferring the Sample
•Cut a corner of the plastic bag, drain fluids into the sample tube and attach cap. If using a bag with a
connected tube, disconnect tube before capping.
•Properly label each tube with sampling date, barn, pen and any other necessary information.
• A minimum sample of 2.0 mL is recommended.
•Discard all ropes after collection. Never reuse ropes, plastic bags or sample tubes. Never leave ropes in
the pens after sampling is finished.
• Do not pool oral fluid samples.
•While at the farm, place oral fluid samples on ice before transporting to an office or laboratory for shipping.
5
Shipping and Handling
• Be sure all tubes are tightly sealed and packaged with ice before shipping.
• Overnight delivery is preferred, as it ensures timely arrival of chilled samples for best results.
Oral Fluid Sample Collection Guide
Note: Information presented in this brochure is abstracted from the Oral
Fluids Collection poster developed in collaboration by the United States
Department of Agriculture, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians,
the National Pork Board and The Center for Food Security and Public Health.2
To view the oral fluid sampling video, please visit idexx.com/swine.
References
1. R
amirez A, Wang C, Prickett JR, Pogranichniy R, Yoon KJ, Main R, Johnson JK, Rademacher C, Hoogland M, Hoffmann P, Kurtz
A, Kurtz E, Zimmerman J. Efficient surveillance of pig populations using oral fluids. Prev Vet Med. 2012;104(3–4):292–300.
2. United States Dept of Agriculture, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, National Pork Board, Center for Food Security
& Public Health . Oral Fluid Collection in Pigs [poster, DVD, booklet]. http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/video.php?link=oral-fluidcollection-in-pigs. Published June, 2011. Accessed June 30, 2014.
For more information about oral collection and the new IDEXX PRRS OF
Ab Test, or to learn more about swine health management, please visit
idexx.com/swine.
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