Bat Droppings Identification

No! You can send your droppings in small containers such as microcentrifuge tubes. Make sure you send your samples in a sturdy container and not in a plastic bag or envelope as these often get damaged during delivery, which can lead to sample degradation. Our kits are the most reliable option to ensure the best results because they contain a preservative solution which prevents DNA degradation and means the samples can be stored for longer periods of time before analysis.

Our kits are designed to have an expiry date with a minimum of 24 months from delivery if kept in ambient conditions. After sampling, kits can be kept for 4 weeks in the refrigerator or 2 weeks at ambient conditions. For best results, please try to sample and send samples back as soon as possible.

• £15.00 ex. VAT
• Next day delivery if ordered by 1 pm
• Kit includes freepost return box for sending samples back to the laboratory

Each kit contains the resources to collect three unique samples, plus a reserve sample for each. You can choose to send in 1, 2 or 3 samples/sites for analysis, just fill in the form stating how many samples for analysis you are sending in and we will invoice you for the appropriate amount. Please make it clear on the sample collection form which samples are reserve and only fill in the details for the samples you wish to have analysed. If you want more than three samples analysed simply print off multiple forms and fill each one in with unique sample identifiers.

Samples can be collected at any time of year.

We advise where possible to collect a reserve sample for each dropping. If the analysis process does not work on the first attempt, we will use the reserve dropping to do a repeat analysis. If you provide a reserve sample, you are more likely to receive a definitive species identification result.

Please send completed kits back to our Laboratory by using our freepost kit box or using a courier of your choice.

SureScreen Scientifics Ltd
Morley Retreat
Church Lane, Morley
Derbyshire
DE7 6DE

We also accept hand-delivered kits between 08:00 and 16.00 Monday to Friday, and by appointment 24/7.

Yes, we can analyse droppings which are collected using other company’s kits.

Kit components can be disposed of or recycled according to your locally available recycling facilities. Sample preservative solution can be disposed of by pouring down the sink with copious amounts of water. If you would prefer, you can return kits to us for correct disposal.

Yes, we are unable to begin processing a sample without a purchase order (or reference) provided on the sample collection form. This means that there might be a delay to sample processing.

We analyse a sample up to three times to achieve a result. If no DNA is detected after three attempts, we are confident there is no longer any DNA in the sample to detect. A repeat analysis would likely achieve the same result. If a different species to the one you were expecting has been reported, it is likely that any repeat sequencing would yield the same result. In these cases, we are therefore unable to repeat the analysis, without paying for additional sample analysis and the requirement for fresh samples.

Standard Analysis (Results within 9 working days)

• £50.00 per analysis ex. VAT.
• This reduces to £45.00 per sample for 3 to 8 analyses per batch or £40.00 per sample for 9 or more analyses per batch.

Fast Track Analysis (Results within 5 working days)

• £70.00 per analysis ex. VAT.
• This reduces to £65.00 per sample for 3 to 8 analyses per batch, £60.00 per sample for 9 or more analyses per batch.

Our procedure involves the selection of a single dropping from your sample for analysis. If you send in multiple droppings within a sample, we will select the freshest most viable dropping for analysis which is most likely to result in positive identification. We only analyse a single dropping and do not combine multiple droppings for analysis at the same time.

If the analysis doesn’t work, we will select an alternative or reserve dropping from your sample and repeat the entire analytical process. Sometimes, if necessary, we will use additional analytical steps on your sample in an attempt to obtain a viable species identity. We will not charge for any additional analytical steps which we conduct on your sample.

The analysis follows a standardised procedure for DNA extraction, PCR amplification of bat DNA using universal markers that amplify DNA from all bat species. If DNA is successfully amplified it is purified and then Sanger sequenced. The resulting sequence is then assessed using bioinformatic tools in order to infer species identity, by crossmatching the genetic sequence obtained from the sequencing step to millions of DNA sequences from every species imaginable (including bats, human, bacteria etc.). Negative controls are used at each step during our analytical procedure to ensure samples are contamination free.

Our service can detect 92% of all bat species worldwide! This includes all UK resident and visiting bat species.

We can detect all 18 UK bat species (listed below). Due to the robustness of the service, the analysis will also detect rarities and vagrants such as Greater mouse-eared bat; Myotis myotis, Kuhl’s pipistrelle; Pipistrellus kuhlii, particoloured bat; Vespertilio murinus. If the droppings are from another species such as a mouse or bird, the results may detect this though not guaranteed to as the chemistry is tailored to the bats above.

• Alcathoe bat Myotis alcathoe
• Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus
• Bechstein’s bat Myotis bechsteinii
• Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii
• Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus
• Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus
• Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii
• Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
• Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus
• Leisler’s bat Nyctalus leisleri
• Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros
• Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii
• Natterer’s bat Myotis nattereri
• Noctule Nyctalus noctula
• Serotine Eptesicus serotinus
• Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus
• Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus
• Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis

Once your results are available, they will be sent to the email address provided on the sample collection form before the deadline. If you have not received your results before this date, make sure that you check your spam or junk email folder.

Genetic sequence:

This is the sequence of DNA which is obtained through the analysis. It is placed into our database and matched against records of all bat species to determine to which species it is most similar to. You can apply a search for the genetic sequence in your report by going to: https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi and then selecting Nucleotide BLAST, inputting your sequence in the Enter Query Sequence box and then pressing the BLAST button.

Sequence similarity:

This is how similar the sequence from your dropping sample is to the sequences which are available in the databases. Usually, reliable sequences are between 85% and 99% similar to the database records. Anything below this can still result in a species detection but should be interpreted with care. Matches of 100% are rare, because most individual bats have small changes in their DNA, making each sequence slightly different to those in the reference database.

Our method has been optimised over several years so we give a low number of inconclusive results.

If you have received an inconclusive result this usually means that the sample is aged or degraded. To keep our prices competitive, we still charge for the analysis as we have attempted to analyse your sample three times.