Hope this is still correct:
 
July 1992
 
                    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                         Agricultural Research Service
 
    DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING DISEASED BROOD AND ADULT HONEY BEES FOR DIAGNOSIS
 
*  Samples are accepted from anyone and in most cases are processed within one
   working day.
 
*  The accuracy of the diagnosis of any bee disease depends on the condition
   of the sample.  The sample can be loosely wrapped in a paper bag, paper
   towel, newspaper, etc. and sent in a wooden or heavy cardboard box.  Adult
   bees should be in 70% ethyl or methyl alcohol
 
*  We do not have the facilities to test for pesticide poisoning.
 
 
Samples of Brood:
*  Avoid wrappings such as plastic bags, aluminum foil, waxed paper, tin, or
   glass because they allow fungi to grow on the samples.
 
*  The sample of comb should be at least 2 X 2 inches.
 
*  The sample should contain as much of the dead or discolored brood as
   possible.
 
*  NO HONEY SHOULD BE PRESENT IN THE SAMPLE.
 
*  If a comb cannot be sent, the probe used to examine a diseased larva in the
   cell may contain enough material for tests.  The probe can be wrapped in
   paper and sent to the laboratory in an envelope.
 
 
Samples of Adult Honey Bees:
*  Send at least 100 bees in a sample.
 
*  If possible, select bees that are dying or that died recently.  Decayed
   bees are not satisfactory for examination.
 
*  BEES SUBMITTED FOR MITE EXAMINATION MUST BE PRESERVED IN ALCOHOL.
   Bees should be placed in 70% ethyl or methyl alcohol as soon as
   possible after collection and carefully packed in leak-proof containers.
   If alcohol is unavailable, bees can be sent loosely wrapped in a paper
   towel or newspaper.  However, it is difficult to detect tracheal mites
   in these samples.
 
*  DO NOT SUBMIT BEES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ETHER.
 
 
How to Address and Package Samples:
*  Send all samples to:
 
    Bee Disease Diagnosis
    Bee Research Laboratory
    Beltsville Agricultural Research Center-East
    Building 476
    Beltsville, MD  20705.
 
*  A short description of the problem along with your name and address should
   accompany the sample.
 
 
                      BRL Protocol for Bee Disease Diagnosis
 
Anyone submitting samples to the Bee Research Laboratory (BRL) should
understand our priorities for diagnosis.  They are as follows:
 
Priority No. 1:  Brood and adult honey bee samples submitted in support of
                 Federal or State emergency programs.
 
Priority No. 2:  Brood samples from colonies where the results may institute
                 abatement action.
 
Priority No. 3:  Examination of adult bees to obtain moving permits.
 
Priority No. 4:  Examination of adult bees for information purposes.
 
When examining bees for Tracheal Mites (Acarapis woodi) priority will be given
to pooled apiary samples.  These bees will be examined until Acarapis woodi is
found or until 50 bees have been scrutinized.  These samples are usually
processed within two working days.  Samples from individual colonies will be
processed only on a "as time allows" basis.