Emergency Biopsy Instructions

WHAT TO DO IF AN ANIMAL DIES UNEXPECTEDLY!
 

Contact Cyagra immediately!

Keep Tissue Sample Refrigerated but Do Not Freeze Tissue Sample!
You need to act swiftly in order maximize the chances of preserving the animals cells. Once an animal dies cellular breakdown starts. Remember we need live cells in order to produce a cell line.
 

Contact us immediately following the loss of your animal.
You can call us at (866) 783-6226 or (717) 367-5420.
Our office hours are 8:00 to 5:00 EST Monday through Friday.
In emergencies call (717) 314-2838. You may also contact us via email smower@cyagra.com.

Tissue from deceased animals can be successfully processed in most cases if the sample reaches our Lab with in 72 hours of death. Cyagra, in a few cases, was able to establish cell lines from animals deceased for several days. On the other hand we have also failed with animals that died only hours before reaching Cyagra’s laboratory.

 

Success depends upon temperature, time, tissue handling and your contacting us immediately.
Tissue from the deceased animal should be kept at refrigerated temperatures between 37° and 47°F. The chance of recovering viable tissue diminishes greatly at temperatures above 50°F and is basically not possible when frozen.
 

The longer it takes to collect the tissue sample and begin processing at our laboratory, the less chance you have for a success. Conversely the sooner you get the tissue collected and processed the greater your chance for establishing a viable cell line.
Proper handling of the animal and tissue will increase your chances for success. Most important, tissue must be kept as clean as possible.

 

Tissue Collection

Tissue should be collected as soon as possible and kept in a refrigerator until it is sent to our lab.

 

Ideally:

A veterinarian using sterile biopsy procedures as follows should collect the tissue sample:
We suggest taking the biopsy from the ear, neck or a non-stressed area of skin on the body. Please use the instructions below to prepare the biopsy site. Note: If selecting the ear you need to prepare both the inside and the outside of the ear at the biopsy site.

  • Shave the area where the biopsy will be collected.

  • Wash the shaved skin with a surgical scrub solution

  • Collect the skin sample from the animal using a sterile scalpel or an alcohol washed razor. Please collect a sample of skin tissue 1" x ½".

  • Place the sample in a leak proof sterile container along with sterile saline solution and a 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin solution, (100 U/ml of Penn. and 50ug/ml Strep). (Make sure there is enough sterile saline solution in the container to completely cover the sample)

  • Do not place in water.

  • Keep the biopsy in the refrigerator until it is shipped.

  • Ship the samples on ice in a Styrofoam container by overnight courier. Do not allow sample to freeze or use dry ice for shipping.

 

Alternatively

If a veterinarian is not available you should follow these procedures being as sterile as possible:

  • Shave the ear where the biopsy will be collected.

  • Wash both the area inside and the outside of the ear with soap and water.

  • Cut off a 1" x 1/2" section of ear.

  • Rinse the removed section of ear in sterile saline solution.

  • Place the sample in a sterile unbreakable leak proof container along with 1 cup of saline solution. (Make sure there is enough sterile saline solution in the container to completely cover the sample)

  • Do not place in water.

  • If you do not have a sterile container, put one in boiling water or microwave for at least 3 to 5 minutes or microwave a Ziploc bag.

  • If you are using a Ziploc bag place the tissue in the bag with the sterile saline make sure it is sealed tight and then put that bag into another Ziploc bag.

  • Make sure container or Ziploc bag does not leak.

  • Add 2-3 cc of Penicillin/Streptomycin solution if possible.

  • Sterile Saline solution is available in a pharmacy.

  • Keep the biopsy in the refrigerator until it is shipped.

  • Place the container in a Ziploc bag and then into a Styrofoam container on ice and ship. Do not allow sample to freeze or use dry ice for shipping

Ship by overnight carrier to:

  

Cyagra, Inc.
Attn: Cell Line Lab
197 Bossler Road
Elizabethtown, PA 17022

Email: smower@cyagra.com
Phone: (717) 367-5420 or 866-783-6226
Fax: (717) 653-6554

REMINDER
The best way to preserve viable cells from your valued animal is to collect and process tissue while the animal is still alive!