Sampling manual of biological samples for genetic analyses on species concerning the Washington convention (CITES)
One of the main activities of the Conservation Genetic Department, in ISPRA, consists in enforcing the rules of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) with the aim of identifying any illicit trades of endangered species. The genetic analyses are the basic stone in verifying whether specimens are legally owned by authorised breeders or if there are inconsistencies with the birth declarations and/or any suspected illegal collection of specimens from the wild. For these reasons, a correct biological sample collection protocol is pivotal in ensuring the reliability of the results and requires trained personnel.
This manual is entirely dedicated to illustrating the correct technical procedures in order to assist the operators in all the steps to correctly collect biological samples for genetic analyses. This document presents three sections: i) an introduction describing the whole process and the authorities involved; ii) the operative protocols illustrating the correct sampling procedures for different biological matrices; iii) an appendix with the Frequently Asked Questions, (FAQ).
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