• Home
• About R.A.L.
• Real-time PCR vs. PCR
• Environmental Screening
• DNA Sex Determination
• Aspergillus Test
• Chlamydophila Test
• Psittacid Herpesvirus Test
• Helicobacter Test
• PBFD Test
• Polyomavirus Test
• Koi Herpes Virus Test
• Sample Requirements Chart
• Download Order Forms
• Links
• Feedback Form

Chlamydophila (Psittacosis)

Blood Sample

Positive: A positive blood sample confirms active infection, usually clinical. Appropriate treatment should be started. Previous infection will not provide protection against future exposure.

Low Level Positive: These results also confirm infection, but at a lower level. Most often, these animals are not clinical, but may quickly present signs of illness, or continue remaining sub-clinical for extended periods of time.

Negative: Negative blood does not rule out sub-clinical infection. Sub-clinical animals are frequently blood negative, swab positive. Combined choanal/cloacal swabs should be submitted to ensure negative results.

Swab Sample — Combined choanal/cloacal swab

Positive: A positive combined swab will confirm infection, although the animal may or may not be clinical at the time the swab was taken.

Low Level Positive: A confirmed infection, but at lower levels than normally associated with clinical disease. This may also reflect a contamination for the environment. LLP results are very useful to determine clean-up efforts.

Negative: A negative swab confirms no organism is present at the time of testing.

Specimen of Choice: Blood and choanal/cloacal swab

Submitted together, they will be tested and charged as one test.

Post Mortem:

Swabs from liver and other organs provide the best samples. These swabs are excessively "hot," confirming disease.

Environmental Testing:

Thorough swabbing of environment is necessary for accurate results (cage corners, a/c vents, and other areas not easily or recently cleaned). When determining clean-up efforts, swabs should be tested individually to confirm success in various locations.