Otter Identification

Send us your samples!

The otter (Lutra lutra) has had protected species status in the UK since 1978 but despite this the population has declined, and in some areas, the species is considered to be rare or even extinct. To better understand the status and distribution of otters in the UK, monitoring and conservation programs have been established.

DNA testing has become a valuable tool in these efforts, as it provides a reliable method for proving otter presence, identifying areas where they are struggling and determining if certain populations are declining or recovering. By understanding these trends, conservationists can make informed decisions about how best to conserve and protect this important species and its habitats.

At Ecotype Genetics we help support the protection and conservation of otters by providing accurate and reliable genetic services to ecologists and environmental consultants.

What we offer:

DNA extraction from otter spraint and other sample types.

Accurate and reliable otter identification using our species-specific genetic tests.

Results within 10 (standard) or 3 (express) working days.

A streamlined sample submission and ordering process.

Discounted pricing for non-profit work, conservation groups and bulk orders.

Looking for more than an identification?

We are always looking to expand our services and use our expertise to help clients wherever we can. If you are looking for a genetic analysis that is not currently listed on our website - get in touch! We will be happy to listen to your requirements as part of our Custom Projects service and work with you to try get the right analyses in place.

Let's chat!

Pricing

Prices below are per sample and shown exclusive of VAT at 20%. Bulk discounts are not applicable to non-profit samples.

Standard price: £55
Non-profit price: £35
Express service: +£20

Bulk Discounts:

10% discount (6-14 samples)
25% discount (15+ samples)

FAQs

Unfortunately, on the rare occasion, orders have been lost in the postal system. Ecotype Genetics cannot take any responsibility for your sample if this occurs. We will refund your purchase if your sample is misplaced and you cannot send us any more.

You may wish to send your sample via a special delivery or recorded service and, if necessary, arrange insurance to cover costs for obtaining and sending a replacement sample.

We also recommend to retain some of the sample, if possible, in the rare case your sample gets lost. Then you can easily send us another batch if it doesn't arrive.

Whilst is it certainly possible to obtain a result from a small amount of starting material (e.g. fur, scats), we advise wherever possible that you try to send us as much as possible - especially for fur samples. The more starting material we have, the higher the amount of DNA we likely to be able to extract thus increasing the chances of achieving a positive identification! If at all possible, keeping some of the sample behind could be a good idea, just in case it gets lost during courier transit.

If you are concerned about any aspects of the sample you collected, please contact us on orders@ecotypegenetics.co.uk

- The best containers to use for Pine marten scats are 15ml plastic centrifuge tubes. Fur can be sent in small 1.5-2ml plastic micro-centrifuge tubes. Both of these are readily available on Amazon - however, we will happily send you some free of charge.

- Please do NOT use a glass container to send droppings.

- Samples MUST be individually marked with their unique 'Sample ID', provided in the order confirmation email. Without this, they will not be processed.

- The safest way to send your samples is in a robust padded envelope. Please make sure you affix the correct postage as they are likely to be classed as large letters. Packages with insufficient postage are held by the courier and will not be delivered to the lab.

Our genetic tests target DNA sequences specific to a certain species and are thoroughly optimised. Therefore, a positive result is only given if DNA from the matching species is present.

If instead, we use a DNA sequencing method, the sequence obtained from your sample will be compared against a public database and we shall provide a result with the highest percentage match. This may not always be 100% due to very small genetic difference between individuals within a species.

Our success rate is very high, and it is rare to receive no result on a sample. However, in these circumstances it is not always possible to know why a particular sample has failed. The most likely reasons are as follows:

- There was insufficient or inadequate quality DNA in the sample to provide a positive identification. The latter may be caused by degradation of the DNA due to prolonged exposure to environmental elements.

- The sample contained inhibitory compounds that prevented the PCR reaction from working, and despite our best efforts, were unable to be separated from the genetic material.

- The sample was not from the target species group, meaning it could not be identified (although we will always endeavour to identify species wherever possible).

If the tests fails, the charge for the analysis is non-refundable. This is due to the costs incurred by Ecotype Genetics to process the sample; including labour, laboratory consumables etc. For more information see our Terms and Conditions.