Anyone familiar with swab testing chickens?

[StinkyAcres]

Specifically tracheal swabs. I am looking into having my chickens tested for MG etc. via a respiratory PCR panel, and am required to send in 3 tracheal swab samples. Problem is I don't know exactly how to get the samples and the testing company won't tell me how (they told me to have a vet do it - which will cost me $150+ extra [I asked my vet]).

Questions:
Do I need to moisten the swab at all or can it be dry?
How far down the trachea does the swab need to go?
How long does the swab need to be inside the trachea?


Thanks for any help!

 

[Kiki]

See if this helps:

 

[Eggcessive]

The swab should not be be moistened. Take care to have someone hold the chicken, maybe wrapped in a towel,) while opening the beak for you. Don’t touch anything but the inside of the throat on the way in or until it goes into the swab holder. Just swab the back of the throat to collect some cells or mucus, no need to keep on and on choking the poor thing. I would say 2-3 seconds at most. Is there more than one sick chicken with symptoms?