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How are the birds tested?

April 26, 2017Birds tested

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How are the birds tested?

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Live bird tests will involve temporarily capturing birds in nets and traps to collect fecal samples with a swab for laboratory testing. Similar swab samples will be taken from harvested waterfowl at check stations during fall hunts. The majority of samples collected by WDFW will be sent to a Washington State University lab in Puyallup, but some will also go to the WSU lab in Pullman. Initial test results are available within 48 hours. If a sample tests positive for an H5 or H7 strain of the virus, the sample will be sent to the national USDA lab in Iowa to identify the exact strain of the virus. Confirmation test results could take an additional two weeks.