FAQ - Frequently asked questions
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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Bird DNA Sex Determination geographical service area?
2. How long have you been in the bird sex determination market?
3. Does the company send collection kits and prepaid envelopes?
4. When and how can payments be made?
5. Which materials should be collected, feather, blood or eggshell?
6. Feathers or blood have already been collected to send to another laboratory. Is it possible to send them to you? How long are samples viable?
7. How long are São Camilo’s sample kits viable?
8. How long does it take for the exam to get ready and how can I get the results?
9. Are there special offers according to the number of samples? Is it possible to buy 20 exams and get 1 for free?
10. Will there be a website in Spanish or English?
11. Is it true that there is a representative in Portugal?
12. I have already ordered the kits through e-mail, when will I get them?
1. What is the Bird DNA Sex Determination geographical service area?
Our company gives support to all Brazilian regions and other countries like Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, England, Mexico, United States of America, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela. Other countries can also be served, please, contact us for more information.
2. How long have you been in the bird sex determination market?
São Camilo Group, situated in Maringá, is a serious group with high responsibility which was established on June 1st, 1972. The company offers modern buildings and the Quality Control of the two principal Brazilian Laboratory Societies. The Group is made of seven specialized sections in several diagnosis areas: Human Clinical Analysis, Veterinarian Clinical Analysis, Image Diagnostic Center, Water and Food Analysis, Human and Animal Anatomopathologic Analysis and the Biotechnology section that is specialized in Molecular and Genetic Biology.
The Biotechnology section is the Group’s newest division, created on August 10th, 2006 due to the establishment of its first exam, known as AVIAN DNA SEX DETERMINATION (bird sexing). Previously, in 2005 the company emerged at Universidade Estadual de Maringá, where the first researches and sex determination exams were developed. Nowadays the Biotechnology section stands out as one of the largest Molecular Analysis Laboratories of Brazil, where analysis in humans, dogs, cats, broiler chicken, pet birds and food, also involved in research projects funded by Federal Agencies like FINEP (Studies and Projects Funding) and CNPq ( National Council of Scientific and Technologic Development).
Watch a short institutional video presenting the Biotechnology and Veterinary section.
3. Does the company send collection kits and prepaid envelopes?
The kits are used for feather, blood or eggshell collection. We send the collection kits, prepaid envelopes and guides for the collection of blood and feather.
4. When and how can payments be made?
The payment must be maid when samples are send or when they get to the laboratory. In Brazil it can be done through bank deposit at Banco do Brasil or Caixa Econômica Federal and also through online payment in our website ( the credit cards accepted are: Visa, MasterCard, Diners, American Express, Hipercard, Aura, Bank invoice and online deposit at many banks). International clients have to pay when the samples are dispatched or when they get to the laboratory, even though there are available options for online payment through Paypal ( Paypal accepts several types of credit cards depending on the country) or electronic money order (in this case, fees are a costumer responsibility).
5. Which materials should be collected, feather, blood or eggshell?
São Camilo Biotechnology Laboratory is specialized in genomic technologies. We have proven experience in getting genetic material (DNA) of several origins like processed food (hamburguer, cheese, jelly, etc.) samples of human and animal origin (blood, serum, excrement, biopsy fragment, etc.) and what calls our attention the most, biologic samples of bird pets. Thus, there are the following collection options:
Feathers:
- Shaft with blood: young growing feathers, generally with a lot of blood in their pulps. For this type of material, 2 feathers are enough.
- Without shaft: adult feathers without blood in their pulps.
i. Feathers from the wings or tail: 4 feathers are enough (be careful not to break the feather when plucking it, we need the pulp to extract DNA).
ii.Feathers from the chest or breast: in passeriformes, retrieve at least 15 feathers. In parrots or medium and big sized birds, 6 chest feathers are enough. The quantity of feathers plucked is not as important as the quality. Ensure that the feather tip, which is attached to the skin, is present (white colouration). Large feathers may contain some blood which should be left on the feather.
Blood:
The blood can be taken with a cut on the nail or through punching the brachial vein from the wings of a bird. A single drop of the blood taken in our collection kit is enough to examine the sex of the birds.
Eggshell:
Collect the pieces of the eggshell which contain the inner membrane (reddish spots inside the eggshells). Use the plastic bag attached to the collection kit with the data about the bird.
SPECIAL ATTENTION IN ALL COLLECTION FORMS
- The human skin contains substances which are called DNAses, they are enzymes that break the DNA. So, try to avoid touching the hollow shaft of the feathers, the area for the blood collection in the kit or the inner parts of the eggshell.
- The sun is also a high increaser of the DNA degeneration. If the collection demands previous drying before dispatching the kits to the laboratory, try to keep them in the shadow to be drought. Avoid leaving the kits directly exposed to sun light, especially after the collection.
- On the other hand, excessive humidity increases fungi and bacteria growing, so try not to wet the kits and if it is blood or eggshell collection, wait at least 30 to 50 minutes for the samples to dry before closing and packing the kits.
The collection is one of the most important steps for the exam to succeed, a well done collection helps out the laboratory to get the results as soon as possible!
6. Feathers or blood have already been collected to send to another laboratory. Is it possible to send them to you? How long are samples viable?
Each laboratory has its own method to extract DNA from the samples. When it comes to feather collection in kits from another laboratory and stored according to the recommendations above, the sample is guaranteed to be viable during 60 days for our DNA extraction protocol. Blood and eggshell samples have a longer viability period of 6 months. Thus, we are able to perform the bird sex determination in the collections which were ready to send in kits of a different laboratory.
7. How long are São Camilo’s sample kits viable?
For feather samples, the viability is the same as mentioned above, a period of 60 days. For blood samples, our kits contain a special filter paper and the collection is viable for 5 years if stored appropriately. The eggshell has a viability of 6 months.
8. How long does it take for the exam to get ready and how can I get the results?
The average for the results to be delivered is about 2 week days. This period may be shorter or longer according to the quality of your collection. The statistics of our quality control show that 92,7% of the exams are delivered in 1 week day. At the same time the technical manager checks and releases the exams in the laboratory, the result is automatically sent to our website. In order to access the online result it is necessary to fill in a previous form in our website ww.scbiotec.com.br. Then, the certificates are sent by mail (certificate example).
9. Are there special offers according to the number of samples? Is it possible to buy 20 exams and get 1 for free?
We don’t offer free exams. We always try to have the best price, Which is R$ 11,90 (eleven reais and ninety cents). In our opinion it is too difficult for the laboratory to control the system of 1 free exam every 20, and that can lead clients to be dissatisfied. Another point is that the laboratory supports different types of clients. There are breeders who would receive 10 free exams a month and other small ones who would have to wait one year to receive the first free exam, which is not fair! Finally, there are several reports on the Internet of people who didn’t receive their bonus after other companies closed down. That’s why we don’t intend to work with the free exams policy, though we have been working on a special offer, you shouldn’t miss it!
10. Will there be a website in Spanish or English?
The answer is yes! Some time ago we started rebuilding our website. The change includes a new online system to control the results and sample dispatching, a new online payment system where you can find all the tests that the laboratory offers and a multilingual website in PORTUGUESE, SPANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN. We planned to finish all these steps in 6 months, however, we are putting too much effort to reach the main steps as soon as possible. We have counted on the cooperation of international breeders such as Mr. Thierry Duliere from France, who has helped with the translations.
11. Is it true that there is a representative in Portugal?
Yes, it’s true! The company headquarters in Portugal had already been planned since the beginning of 2010. The intention was to start operating in September/October, 2010, but according to the circumstances we intend to start the activities next week. It is already possible to contact Sr. Tadeu Cristiano de Souza, who is our representative in Europe through e-mail: commercial-pt@scbiotec.com.br. He is our assistant for European costumers.
12. I have already ordered the kits through e-mail, when will I get them?
INowadays, our website is a reference in several forums in many countries. Lots of breeders are now worried and confused because of the facts. We have received orders of kits from more than 20 countries and we understand that every single country deserves a response and needs to receive our material for collection as soon as possible. That’s why we organized a 3-shift-system in order to give support with efficiency. We expect the comprehension and support of our longtime costumers and also new ones.
Brasil: The kits have been posted daily and the estimated period informed by the mail is about 5 week days. Although we have the experience that it takes a longer time for the north region of Brazil.
Europe: There are kits heading to Braga – Portugal every 2 days. According to the Brazilian mail, the estimated period for delivery is 7 to 9 days. The kits will be distributed from Braga to the other European countries. According to the Portuguese mail, the time for delivery is 2 days for Portugal and 5 days for other countries. Thus, we expect that the first ordered kits arrive up to 15 days.
America: The kits are been sent every day. The estimated time for the Brazilian mail delivering is 15 to 30 days.
We hope that this brief FAQ solves the principal doubts while we are in the learning and adaptation process. If your doubt does not appear in the topics above, please send us an e-mail:: atendimento@scbiotec.com.br
We will be glad to help you.
In the download page you can find our guides, forms and samples of collection kits and certificates.
(44) 3029-9660/ CEL: (44) 8836-6978 / NEXTEL: (44) 7811-4535 (ID 14*1004633) | atendimento@scbiotec.com.br All rights reserved to São Camilo Group. 2006-2012
