Yes it really helps if you have your birds all rounded up in cages and next to your testing table. You have to be able to hold your bird to where they can fan out a wing and poke it with their testing needle. I did my NPIP testing in February and had enough cages for about half my flock, but there were 6 I'd left in their coop and trekked back and forth in the slippery mud in galoshes to go get each one and put it back after it was poked in the wing vein for a drop of blood. It started raining for the last 4 birds, thankfully the tester, Jennifer, and her equipment were in my garage. My clothing went immediately in the wash after I was done and I to the shower. Jennifer is really nice and easy going, Rose is also very helpful and knowledgeable, and Tony, well, he is the detail oriented person of the bunch. Anyway, I am glad I had initial contact with Jennifer and Rose first before having my first interaction with Tony by phone, otherwise I would have swore off the NPIP program altogether from that one interaction which left a lasting negative impression. Aside from that one negative interaction, Missouri does a good job because 1. Testing is free 2. They do make it easy by sending you return envelopes to mail in your carbon copies of your shipping forms. 3. They are available to answer questions by e-mail or phone when they are not out testing, and respond in a timely manner.