Injecting substances into eggs to reduce contamination

A method of introducing a substance into an avian egg such that potential contamination is substantially reduced includes removing an avian egg containing a live avian embryo from an incubator (100); applying a sanitizing fluid to the shell of the egg to kill pathogens attached thereto (200); forming an opening in the shell (300); inserting an injection device through the opening (400); releasing a substance into the egg via the needle (500); retracting the injection device from the egg (600);and pathogens attached thereto. Prior to injection, the sanitizing fluid is applied to substantially the entire surface of the egg shell.