Filter-Paper Blood Sampling for Detection of Pathogen Exposure and Pregnancy in Caribou

Once validated, filter-paper blood samples collected during International Polar Year and beyond will be used to establish baseline disease "profiles" for circumpolar caribou herds. The filter paper tool will permit widespread serosurveillance of infectious disease in caribou herds by biologists and communities (hunters) across northern regions. Validation for progesterone (pregnancy) detection will meet several needs of caribou biologists/researchers in capture settings and other situations, and could help provide valuable herd-health information.