FAQs
Our normal turn around time for all sample methods is 3-5 working days after the day we receive your samples.
It is only important to mail your blood tubes overnight in the real heat of the summer. During other times, 2-3 day shipping is fine. In hotter months, be sure to include an icepack.
We have found that UPS and FedEx are the most reliable for getting your samples delivered when they say they will deliver them. If you only have United States Postal Service in you area we recommend sending them Overnight or Priority Mail with a signature required.
To alleviate confusion, we do not offer discounted pricing on larger batches. The cost for us to process the sample & run the test does not decrease with larger batches and therefore, the cost per sample is the same. We do try very hard to keep our pricing very competitive and fair.
There is currently not a discount for running multiple tests on a sample.
We will store the extracted DNA from each sample for 5 years. You can call us and request additional testing on DNA that we have stored.
The cost is the same whether as long as you are submitting a sample that is one our accepted sample types (Blood, Tissue punch, Blood card, Feather)
The tissue punch systems that we supply can be stored for up to 3 years at room temperature and therefore do not require speedy shipping methods. However, you do need to use a bubble/padded mailer or box. Do not use paper type envelopes as the collectors will pop through the paper.
It has been suggested from the manufacturer of the tissue collectors that they will last at least 10 years if kept dry and not exposed to extreme temperatures.
Once the tissue punch has been collected and is secured in the tissue collector they can be stored for up to 3 years if kept at room temperature. You can send them in at your convenience, depending, of course on how soon you need your results.
There is no need to refrigerate your Datamars or Hauptner Typifix tissue samples. There are drying dessicant pebbles in the collection cup that will dry and preserve the tissue sample for up to 3 years.
You can mail your samples to:
Gene Check
1175 58th Ave. Suite 100
Greeley, CO 80634
2-3 cc’s of blood in a purple top EDTA tube is sufficient to do up to 8 tests. It is important to gently rock the tube back and forth 8-10 times immediately after collecting to prevent the blood from clotting. After collection, chill the tubes before sending them to us. Blood can be stored for 7-10 days in your refrigerator before shipping.
Yes we can. We will need 2-3 cc’s of whole blood in a purple top tube.
Because testing is not free, the goal is to minimize the amount of testing you need to do. At Gene Check, we continue to discourage routine testing at codon 136. First of all, the incidence of strain A scrapie in the US is low. Secondly, if you are breeding toward RR at codon 171, you are automatically breeding toward AA at codon 136. If you are selling RR animals, you do not need to test them at codon 136. If you are selling QR animals, as most of us still are, you may want to consider testing those at Codon 136.
There are now 2 genetic markers (Codons 146 & 222) that we can test to determine if your goats are resistant to Scrapie.
The type of test you are requesting will determine the type of blood tube you will need to use. If you are sending your samples in to be tested for Codon 171, 136 or Spider you will need to use a purple top tube. This tube contains EDTA which will keep the blood from clotting. If you are testing for OPP or Johne’s please use red top tubes. Red top tubes allow the blood to clot, seperating the serum from the red blood cells. We use the serum to test for OPP or Johne’s.
You will need to use Agrobiogens pliers in order to use the DNA ear tags. For the samples to be properly captured in the tag, Agrobiogen’s pliers need to be used.