External examination
Use dry swabs to firmly swab the cloaca and trachea mucosa, then snap swab heads into separate viral transport media (VTM) or saline for avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus testing. (VTM is available from AHL or district veterinary officers.)
Examine the feathers, skin and limbs. Use sticky tape to collect mites and tape to a microscope slide for identification. Take skin scrapes of crusting lesions to reveal mites.
Collect a tracheal swab
A scissor cut at the corners of the mouth helps expose the trachea.
Collect a cloacal swab
