What is the required state of retention for positive EIA test samples?

The required state of retention for positive EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia) test samples is frozen. This approach helps maintain the integrity of the samples over time and prevents degradation that could occur if they were stored at room temperature or even refrigerated. When samples are frozen, the biochemical processes within the samples are significantly slowed down, which preserves the antibodies or viral particles that are crucial for accurate testing and diagnostics.

Additionally, proper freezing conditions are important because EIA is a retrovirus and can degrade if not stored correctly. It is essential for veterinary practices and laboratories to follow these guidelines to ensure that positive samples are viable for future testing, analysis, or research purposes. The other suggested conditions, such as room temperature or refrigeration, do not provide the same level of stability and would risk the reliability of the sample in identifying EIA in horses.