Diagnostic tests are absolutely necessary to confirm PRRS. Obviously, the success in obtaining an accurate and representative diagnosis largely depends on the quality and suitability of the samples.
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As stated in section “Physical and chemical characteristics of PRRS virus”, this virus is relatively labile; samples should usually therefore be kept under refrigeration conditions (4 ºC) and sent to the laboratory rapidly (best within 24 h).
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1 Samples conserved under refrigerated conditions should be shipped to the diagnostic laboratory within 24-48 h. In the lab, serum/tissues should be frozen for long-term maintenance.
2 Samples from mummified and autolysed foetuses can be used, but rarely yield positive results.
3 As PRRS virus is intermittently shed in the semen, more than one sample at different times should be submitted.
4 Pooling (mix of samples) is a common practice used to reduce costs. However, it is not advisable because it reduces the RT-PCR sensitivity. In any case, mix of more than 4-5 samples must be avoided.
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