Sending your sample for diagnosis

How to select your sample

Please consider the following points when selecting you sample as it provides the key for diagnosis:

  • Try to send a sample that is representative of the problem - we need to see the full range of symptoms
  • For diseases, try to include the boundary between healthy and diseased tissue and where possible, include healthy material for comparison
  • If symptoms on leaves or shoots show general discoloration or dieback, suggesting possible root damage, then please send us a whole plant (where possible) and include the roots and surrounding soil
  • If you suspect the problem is due to nematodes, please include separate soil samples from both the affected area and the edge of the affected area

How to package your sample

Please follow packing guidelines to ensure sample is fit for testing on arrival.

Whole plants Enclose moist root ball in a plastic bag sealed around the plant stem. Place the whole plant in a second plastic bag, inflate slightly and seal.
Leaves and shoots Virus diagnosis Place in a plastic bag, inflate slightly and seal.
Other/unknown diagnosis Wrap sample in slightly moist absorbent paper, place in a plastic bag, inflate slightly and seal.
Fleshy items For example: fruit, vegetables, tubers (except potatoes), bulbs, corms, etc.
Wrap in dry, absorbent paper, if rotting/breaking down please wrap individually. Place in a plastic bag, inflate slightly and seal.
Invertebrate pests Samples of invertebrate pests (insects, spiders, mites etc.) should be put in a sealed plastic container.
Potato tubers Invertebrate diagnosis Wrap in dry, absorbent paper. Place in a plastic bag, inflate slightly and seal.
Other/unknown diagnosis Wrap in dry, absorbent paper. Do not place in a plastic bag.
Soil samples For nematode analysis. Place about 500g of soil in a strong plastic bag and seal.

All samples should be put in a strong cardboard box and packed securely with screwed up paper. Include your Fera plant clinic number or print out of submission page in a separate bag and seal the box.

Send your sample to:

Plant Clinic
Food and Environement Research Agency
Sand Hutton
YORK, YO41 1LZ
United Kingdom

Ideally, samples should be dispatched by either courier service or first-class post to arrive at Fera next day. Try to avoid sending samples over the weekend or a bank holiday.

For potato samples - please download, complete and send with your samples an Application form for post-harvest testing of potato tubers. For strawberry samples - please download, complete and send with your samples an Application for testing of Strawberry Plants.

If you have any queries, contact:
Emily Simpson (Customer Services Manager)
Tel: 01904 462324
Fax: 01904 462147 or 01904 462147
E-mail:

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