Division 3.1 Preparation of the samples

At the laboratory samples shall be kept refrigerated until examination, which shall be started within 48 hours following receipt and within 96 hours after sampling.

The pair(s) of boot/sock swabs shall be carefully unpacked to avoid dislodging adherent faecal material, pooled and placed in 225 ml buffered peptone water (BPW) which has been pre-warmed to room temperature. The boot/sock swabs shall be fully immersed in BPW and therefore more BPW may be added if necessary.

The dust sample shall preferably be analysed separately. However for fattening flocks, the competent authority may decide to allow it to be pooled with the pair of boot/sock swabs for analysis.

The sample shall be swirled to fully saturate it and culture shall be continued by using the detection method set out in point 3.2.

Other samples (e.g. from breeding flocks or hatcheries) shall be prepared in accordance with point 2.2.2 of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 200/2010.

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