The collection of samples post-mortem should be opportunistic and follow all applicable regulations. Tissues must be collected as close to the time of death as possible to avoid tissue decomposition and proliferation of bacteria. If the animal dies suddenly or if the animal must be euthanized, refrigerate but do not freeze the animal carcass until you perform the biopsy procedure, if possible. For any animal carcass found in the wild, time, ambient temperature, and storage methods are critical factors that can impact how quickly a sample must be collected.
If the animal has been found in a cooler climate, the maximum length of time to collect a biopsy sample is 24 hours. If the carcass has been stored at approximately 4°C in a cooler or fridge, biopsy samples can be collected up to 72 hours postmortem. If you do not know the time of death of the animal, try to collect multiple biopsies from different areas of the animal that do not show visible decay.
Take as many samples as permissable. Samples must be larger than 3mm3 to yield enough living fibroblasts cells for the eventual creation of cell lines. Collecting more that one sample type per individual increases the chances of successful biobanking in case one sample is not successful.
Use a sterile container large enough to hold the entire specimen. Use of a commercial kit is recommended. Other options include a large 50ml centrifuge tube, a clean Tupperware with a tight-sealing lid, or a durable ziplock bag. Include only one biopsy sample per vial. If you are running low on materials, up to two biopsy can be including in one vial. DO NOT mix biopsies from different individuals in the same vial.
For urgent questions regarding protocol steps or collection guidelines, please contact the Revive & Restore Biobanking Team at informedbiobanking@reviverestore.org