SAMPLE HANDLING AFTER NECROPSY:

1.) Formalin fixed samples:

  1. If you can, it is optimal to change out the formalin with fresh in about 24 hours, especially if you think you might not quite be at a 1:10 ratio of tissue to formalin.
  2. Protect samples from freezing!
  3. Brains need to fix for 1wk -3 weeks depending on how big they are (dog size – 1 week; horse size 2weeks).
  4. When ready to ship, pour off most of the liquid formalin, rinse with water. Wrap in moistened paper toweling and enclose in 2 layers of leak proof plastic containers (vacuum packers are great, sturdy zip locks with all the air squeezed out are acceptable).Wrap in a sturdy trash bag with some packing materials (paper towels, peanuts, bubble wrap) and close tightly. Pack into a sturdy cardboard box, enclose the paper reports, or a disk of reports and photos in a zip lock, lab submission form for AVPS and the permit;
  5. ship with sample form and paperwork by priority mail to :

LeRoy Brown HT (ASCP) HTL

Histology Consultation Services

207 N. Harkness Street

P.O. Box 770

Everson, WA 98247

2.) DMSO Fixed samples (skin for genetics):

  1. Wrap some Parafilm around the cap to prevent leakage
  2. Pad with packing material and enclose in a plastic bag

Ship by priority mail to
Kelly Robertson

NOAA Fisheries, SWFSC

3333 N. Torrey Pines Ct

La Jolla, CA 92037

3.) Frozen samples:

  1. Freeze as cold as possible ASAP.
  2. Shipping: Send them all to AVPS in Anchorage to be further distributed. Please call ahead to make sure we are there (Kathy Burek 907 242-2566(c) / 696-1427(h) / ); Katie Royer (). Send by Goldstreak or Alaska Air Cargo, Linden Cargo or Northern Air cargo depending on works best for you. Have them keep it frozen – PUT A FREEZE Sticker on box. If it is from a fresh animal, send with dry ice. If not so fresh, send on blue ice. Our known shipper number is CID33153 and you can send COD

ALASKA VETERINARY PATHOLOGY SERVICES

C/O Dr. Kathy Burek

23834 THE CLEARING DR.

EAGLE RIVER, AK 99577

907 242-2566

Samples will be distributed as follows:

Contact / Where / Sample / Use / Address
Gina Ylitalo / NWFSC / Blubber / POP analysis / Gina Ylitalo
NOAA /NMFS/NWFC
Environmental Conservation Division
2725 Montlake Blvd E.
Seattle, WA 98112
206 860-3309
David Herman – Belugas
Humpbacks / NWFSC / Skin to muscle blubber (3x3x4) / Fatty acids and stable isotopes / David Herman /
NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC
Environmental Conservation Division
2725 Montlake Blvd E.
Seattle, WA 98112
206 860-3309
Todd O’Hara / Maggie Castellini / UAF / Hair, Liver and kidney in plastic / Trace elements and Heavy metals / Todd O'Hara, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Wildlife Toxicology
Institute of Arctic Biology
P.O. Box 757000
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7000
Office phone 907-474-1838.
Lab phone (907) 474-2798.
Fax line (907) 474-2799.

Lorrie Rea / ADF&G / UAF / Muscle to skin from dorsal flank in SSLs
Heart and Skeletal muscle
Whiskers from SSLs
Skin in ETOH (SSLs) / Fatty acids
Chlorinated fatty acids
Stable Isotopes
Genetics / Lorrie Rea / ADF&G
245 O'Neill Building
UAF
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220

907 474-5079 (w)
907 474-5080 (WF)
Lori Quakenbush / ADF&G / Stomachs with contents / Prey analysis
Lori Quakenbush / ADF&G / Reproductive tracts, SSLS ONLY / Life history
Lara Hortstmann-Dehn ; phone: 907-474-7724 / UAF Marine Biology / Tongue / Trichinella analysis –Grad student project
Elizabeth Frame / NWFSC HABS lab / Urine, bile, feces, stomach contents / HABs analysis (ELISA then MS/LC) / Elizabeth Frame
NOAA Fisheries/EC Division
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
Please label box with “Freeze immediately upon arrival”
(Please call (206) 302-2402 or email before shipping)
Aren Gunderson / Link Olsen / Museum of the North / Color-coded tissue vials, skulls, whiskers, claws / Archiving / University of Alaska Museum
Mammals Collection
Attn: Dr. Link Olsen / Brandy Jacobsen
907 Yukon Drive;
Fairbanks, AK 99775
(907) 474-6947
Paul Becker (no one currently in AK) / AMMTAP / NIST / Liver, Kidney, Blubber in Teflon (FRESH only) / Archiving at NIST
Kathy Burek / AVPS / Archives and Disease archive / Follow up from Histopathology / ALASKA VETERINARY PATHOLOGY SERVICES
C/O Dr. Kathy Burek
23834 THE CLEARING DR.
EAGLE RIVER, AK 99577
907 242-2566
Depends on species
SSL – Lorrie Rea
Seals – Shawna Karpovich
Beluga – Barbara Mahoney / ADF&G
ADF&G
NMFS / Teeth / aging
? / Tympanic bullae / Aging
Chris Gabriele / NPS / Eyes from Humpback
Ear plug (fixed in 15% FORMALIN one week, THEN 10%) / Aging
Aging / Chris Gabriele
c/o Air Excursions LLC
Juneau International Airport, 1873 Shell Simmons Dr.
Juneau, AK 99801

(907) 789-5591 - Work
? / NMFS / Reproductive tracts beluga / Life History