Poulpharm has the necessary facilities for carrying out post-mortem examinations. In consultation with experienced veterinarians, the appropriate samples are taken for pathological diagnosis. Within our pathology department we use three services: necropsy, histology and cytology.
Postmortem examination
Veterinary diagnostic services
Postmortem examination remains one of the most valuable tools in veterinary disease investigation and plays a crucial role in supporting clinical decision-making, herd health management, and treatment strategies.
At Poulpharm, every examination is performed using a structured and standardized approach to ensure accurate, reliable, and clinically relevant results. From targeted diagnostic sampling to comprehensive necropsy investigations, our pathology team is committed to delivering high-quality diagnostic support tailored to each case.
Animals can be submitted either for targeted sample collection or for a complete necropsy examination:
Sample Collection
Targeted sample collection is recommended when specific tissues or materials are required for additional diagnostic purposes, without the need for a complete postmortem examination.
Samples can be collected upon request in situations such as:
- Autogenous vaccine production
- Epidemiological investigations and strain monitoring
- Specific / targeted PCR, bacteriology, virology, or histopathology testing
- Follow-up investigations in ongoing disease outbreaks
- Research or surveillance purposes
This option provides an efficient and cost-effective approach when only selected analyses are required.
Necropsy
When a full necropsy is requested, each animal undergoes a comprehensive and systematic postmortem examination performed according to standardized diagnostic protocols.
A detailed descriptive pathology report, including photographic documentation, is provided within 3 working days after reception of the animals.
In many cases, gross pathological findings alone are insufficient to establish a definitive diagnosis. Therefore, additional samples are routinely collected during necropsy for further laboratory testing. The results of these complementary investigations are integrated with the pathological findings to establish a final diagnostic conclusion. Turnaround times for additional testing depend on the specific analyses requested.
Interpretation of histological images with full descriptive report.
Through histological analysis, we study the structure and possible abnormalities of a specific tissue type. After resection of a fresh piece of tissue during a necropsy, this tissue undergoes a technical processing resulting in a histological section, which is then viewed under a microscope. During this microscopic analysis, our team of experienced veterinarians will study the tissue structure and report the main histopathological findings. Routine histological examination is done on hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained microscopic sections. Special staining such as a Periodic Acid Shiff (PAS) stain can be requested as well as immunohistochemical staining.
Histological analysis can be performed after sampling during a necropsy when the performing veterinarian deems it necessary, but you can also send fixed tissue or leave it at our sample storage facility (Prins Albertlaan 112, 8870 Izegem) when sampling in the field.
Requirements when depositing fixed tissue for further histological analysis:
- Please notify us prior to bringing in the sample.
- A submitted tissue sample must always be accompanied by a completed laboratory research request form.
- Respect a tissue:fixative ratio of 1:10 each time.
- Do not send excessively large pieces of tissue. The tissue piece must be small enough for the fixative to penetrate sufficiently.
- Try to avoid leakage at all times while packing your sample. Ideally, the container of formaldehyde should be transported in a secondary container.
- Properly label the submitted tissue each time with date of sample collection, tissue type and animal or group identification.
Would you like to request pre-filled containers of formaldehyde?
Contact us.
Special colorings:
By special stains we mean any staining that is not immunohistochemical staining but is different from routine HE staining. For example, this could be a Periodic-Acid Shiff (PAS) stain or a Giesma or Ziehl-Neelsen stain.
Looking for a specific special staining? Please contact us.
Immunohistochemical staining:
Immunohistochemical techniques are used to detect antigens in cells or tissue by using specific antigens. This antigen-antibody binding can then be visualized and in this way specific cells or cellular components can be imaged. Such techniques are used, among others, for tumor characterization, identification of infectious microorganisms or identification of proliferation markers.
Looking for a specific IHC staining? Contact us.
Other services:
Morphometric measurements
Morphometry allows us to determine various quantitative parameters on histological sections. These parameters are particularly interesting in study design to indicate significant differences between groups. These include measurements of villus height, crypt depth and thickness of the tunica muscularis on sections of intestinal tissue, but also other things such as measuring the thickness of the aortic wall, which can give an idea about cardiovascular problems.
Whole slide imaging.
Whole slide imaging involves scanning the regular histological sections that are normally viewed under a microscope, allowing them to be viewed online as whole slide images. Digital histological images can be made available for a certain period of time so that you can view them from home.
Submission Requirements
To guarantee optimal diagnostic quality and rapid turnaround times, please observe the following requirements when submitting animals for necropsy:
- Complete Laboratory Request Form
Each case must be accompanied by a fully completed laboratory request form.
Request forms can be downloaded here:
Incomplete or missing documentation may result in significant delays, as samples cannot be processed through our laboratory information system without the necessary administrative information.
- Provide a complete clinical history: Accurate and comprehensive case information is essential for proper interpretation of pathological findings and laboratory results. Please include relevant details such as clinical signs, morbidity and mortality data, age and species, vaccination status, treatments administered, duration of disease, and any previous laboratory findings.
- Selection of animals: Appropriate case selection is critical for successful diagnostics. For optimal results, we recommend submitting animals in the acute stage of disease, animals showing clear clinical symptoms, and recently deceased animals. Whenever possible, avoid submitting chronic wasting animals, severely autolysed carcasses, or animals that have undergone extensive prolonged treatment.
- Importance of the postmortem interval: The time between death and examination is essential for maintaining diagnostic quality. Postmortem decomposition and autolysis occur rapidly and may obscure pathological lesions, reduce sample quality, compromise bacteriological or molecular testing, and limit diagnostic interpretation. To preserve optimal sample integrity, carcasses should be refrigerated immediately after death, not frozen unless specifically instructed, and transported to the laboratory as quickly as possible.
