Collection Guidelines 1. Prevent Cross-Contamination Wipe fingers and all tools (tweezers, clippers, scissors) with a fresh alcohol wipe between each bird. Always use clean tools and separate bags for each individual sample. 2. Handling the Feather Collect feathers that have one drop of blood, tissue residue, or small dried membrane pieces on the quill. Avoid samples that are overly wet, excessively bloody, or rancid-prone. 3. Storage Before Shipping After collecting, place each feather in its own sealed bag. You may store samples in the freezer initially this helps prevent clotting and slows breakdown. Freezing is optional for shipping.Samples ship well at room temperature as long as: They contain minimal fluids No large pieces of wet tissue are present No full eggshells or tubes of blood are included
