The FTA cards can be used with various materials, swabs, tissue or blood (one spot can capture 125 μl whole blood) and can be ordered at GD Animal Health. Samples on FTA cards can only be tested with molecular diagnostic methods like PCR and sequencing. FTA cards cannot be used to culture bacteria or viruses.

Applying samples

• Always wear gloves when handling the FTA cards to avoid contamination. Please label each FTA card with a card identification.
• To obtain sufficient material for testing, put a few drops of blood onto the FTA card or press the inside of cut slice of the tissue or the swab firmly onto the FTA card. Where material is present on the FTA card, the color indicator in the card will turn from pink to white.
• Allow the samples to dry at room temperature and normal humidity. Store unused cards in a dry and cool place.
• Before submitting the FTA card(s), please make sure you put the dried samples through a microwave treatment. FTA cards should be heated for twenty seconds at 900 watt.

Submitting FTA cards

FTA cards can be submitted by regular mail. The only document you should include is a GD submission form on which you can clarify the identification of the samples, mark the required analysis and choose if you want the spots on an FTA card tested individually or tested as pool. All submission forms are available online. Please make sure to sign the submission form and send the package to:

Royal GD
Attn. Lab Logistics
Rigastraat 25
7418 EW Deventer
The Netherlands

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via +31 (0)88 20 25 575 or by email.