Precision species identification for rapid environmental assessment
Precision species identification for rapid environmental assessment
Our bat identification test identifies bat species from droppings samples using metabarcoding, enabling multi-species detection from a single sample submission. This is particularly relevant where roosts are of mixed composition or species identity is uncertain from acoustic survey alone. Our curated reference database contains more than 42,000 bat DNA sequences from more than 1000 bat species, including the 18 known to be present in the British Isles.
Turnaround time: 5 business days (Monday – Friday, excluding bank holidays)
We sell our sampling kits separately from our testing to allow maximum flexibility for our clients.
We recommend purchasing our bat droppings collection kit. However, we realise that it may not always be possible to have a kit immediately to hand when you need to take samples like these. For bat guano testing we are also able to accept:
Please note we cannot accept bat guano samples that have been sent in envelopes, as these are often crushed in transit which can negatively affect the sample quality.
We are also able to accept sampling kits from other companies for this test.
Our bat identification test can be ordered online and once your order is received we email you a sample submission form and instructions for how to send your sample.
This test is carried out via DNA metabarcoding, so multiple bat species can be detected in mixed samples. We have validated a set of Chiroptera-specific primers which amplify a section of the mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, which is commonly used for species identification via DNA barcoding. Our utilisation of metabarcoding for this test ensures that if you send multiple droppings in your sample that we can detect multiple species from the same sample.
The results for this test are uploaded to your account. You can create your account when you order. You’ll be notified by email as soon as your sample is received by us, and again as soon as the results are ready to retrieve from the portal.
The results for the bat identification test come in the form of a laboratory test certificate showing the species identified.
If you do not have a business account with us then all testing must be prepaid via a credit or debit card. No credit terms will be available to customers without a business account.
Applying for a business account
To check out you will have to register for an online account, and during this registration you can choose to apply for a business account at the same time. Once the business account has been approved you will be able to pay via purchase order / invoicing in addition to credit/debit card. Please note that your first order must be paid for before your results are released.
Companies, universities, charities and citizen science groups can apply for a business account. Once your account is approved you will receive account-specific pricing, which is often discounted. If you would like to apply for an account in anticipation of a future order, please register here.
If you have any questions about this product, it’s suitability for your project, or anything else, book a free consultation with one of our molecular ecologists.
