In addition to pet owners, collaboration with veterinary professionals is also important for our research. Veterinary professionals can help, for example, by taking a blood sample from a pet during a clinic visit with the owner’s consent. Below you can read more about sample collection and collaboration opportunities with our research group.
Sample collection instructions
Before sample collection, the owner must complete the sample form and check whether additional attachments are required for the study (for example, an eye examination form or other report). Detailed participation instructions can be found here.
The sample collector signs the sample submission form.
1. Take 1–3 ml of blood from the dog/cat into an EDTA tube. The pet does not need to fast before sample collection.
2. Write the pet’s name or registration number, or both, on the tube. Make sure the information matches the name/number written on the sample form.
The blood sample and sample form should be sent to the research group at room temperature as soon as possible. If the sample cannot be mailed immediately, it should be stored in the refrigerator until shipment. If the sample is collected on a Friday, it should be kept in the refrigerator over the weekend and mailed on Monday.
Who is responsible for shipping?
The pet owner is usually responsible for packing and sending the sample to the research group, including shipping costs.
Alternatively, the sample collector can send the sample if this has been arranged between the owner and the collector.
Sample packing instructions
1. Pack the blood sample bag and the sample form together in the same package for mailing. You can download and print our address label here.
2. Include a proforma to the sample shipment. Please add sample information and sender’s contact.
3. If the shipment is sent from outside of the EU, please include an import permit. No import permit is needed if the sample is send from the EU countries. The import permit has been granted specifically for our research purposes by the Finnish Food and Safety authority Evira and it is for Finnish Customs. If the import permit is not included to the sample shipment arriving outside of the EU, the shipment may get stuck to the customs.
Proforma and import permit must be placed on the outside of the package in a plastic sleeve so they can be read if needed.
Sample shipping
Two to three day delivery services are the best. However, schedule the shipment so that it will NOT arrive during a weekend or holiday period. If the samples were collected at the end of the week, please store them in refrigerator over the weekend (do not freeze the samples). The samples can be shipped in room temperature.
The samples can be shipped to us by express mail or you can use a courier company e.g FedEx. If asked in the shipping form, place a value of 1€ for the samples to help them get through customs. In the shipping form, define the shipment as “canine/feline samples for research purposes”.
The sender is responsible for postage costs. Send the sample along with the sample form and other attachments to the following address:
Lohi research group
Biomedicum Helsinki, room B310a
Haartmaninkatu 8
00290 Helsinki,
Finland