This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) contains guidance on how to sample tissue and blood from bird specimens submitted to the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project.

Please note this SOP covers sampling tissue and blood either during an appropriate veterinary procedure or post-mortem, with assumed veterinary knowledge.

It is applicable if the submitter/centre in question has opportunities to sample tissue from birds that are being either being euthanized for clinical purposes, undergoing veterinary procedures. or eligible biobanked carcasses (storage dependent).

This SOP does not cover procedures regarding bio banked, pre - dissected tissue or blood.

This SOP is covers birds specifically - please refer to the DToL Chordata: Vertebrata SOP for a general overview.

For vouchering and sampling fish specimens, with the idea of donating tissue and carcasses specifically to the Natural History Museum in London, please refer to the DToL Chordata: Vertebrata: Fish Vouchering SOP.

This is version one of this SOP, and may be subject to change in the future.

DToL Specimen submission form template for external submitters.xlsx