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 Zoologix
dog and cat testing
Why use
PCR to detect infectious diseases of dogs and cats?
Molecular testing using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) has
revolutionized the way veterinarians, researchers, zoos,
breeders and
other animal care facilities maintain animal health and obtain
disease data.
The sensitivity, specificity and speed with which pathogens
are identified by PCR enable diagnostic, research and
monitoring possibilities unavailable using other techniques.
Molecular techniques represent a dramatically effective tool
for the diagnosis of disease in dogs, cats and other animals.
In PCR testing, nucleic acid -- DNA or RNA
-- is isolated from the specimen, then amplified (after an
extra reverse transcription step in the case of RNA) using
highly specific primers complementary to known target pathogen
sequences. References and controls are run simultaneously;
internal controls monitor extraction and PCR efficiency.
Amplified sequences are visualized and recorded using
state-of-the-art protocols and instrumentation.
How is molecular, PCR-based testing complementary to
other kinds of testing?
- Cross-reactivity reduces the specificity
of many serological tests: a positive result can be caused
by organisms other than the target. Molecular assays, on the
other hand, are highly specific because they detect genetic
sequence unique to the target pathogen. Even closely related
pathogen strains can often be distinguished.
- The influence of some sources of false
positives is reduced in molecular testing, because while
other testing methods detect antibodies to pathogens which
may not still be present, molecular assays detect the
genetic material of the pathogen itself -- a direct
indication of presence of the pathogen in the sample.
- Latent or early infections can often be
detected by PCR before disease symptoms are apparent.
Detection is not dependent on elevated antibody levels.
- Animals with high titres of some viruses
can actually exhibit very low antibody levels as their
immune systems are challenged by an infection. This can
result in false negative diagnoses if antibody testing alone
is used.
- PCR's exquisite sensitivity allows
detection of a target pathogen in a sample even if present
in very low titres, and even from very small sample volumes.
About Zoologix
Zoologix serves veterinarians, researchers, zoos,
breeders
and animal care facilities with molecular diagnostic testing
for infectious diseases that affect dogs, cats and other
animal species. Other testing facilities perform PCR
testing as a sideline. Because we specialize in PCR assays
for infectious diseases of animals, our lab staff are
adept at performing protocols designed to maintain
specimen integrity and maximize assay specificity and
sensitivity. We provide fast turnaround and competitive
pricing in each of our assay categories.
Zoologix is owned and managed by board-certified
scientists and seasoned laboratory managers with extensive
experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, zoology,
assay design, quality assurance and lab operations. Our
objective is to provide to the veterinary,
animal care, breeder and research
communities the fastest, highest quality molecular
infectious disease testing available.
Our technicians and scientists understand the importance
of fast, sensitive, specific test results in maintaining
animal health and obtaining critical data for basic
research, longitudinal studies and preclinical trials.
Client samples are stored at our lab for six months to
facilitate any followup testing.
Contact information
Zoologix is headquartered in Chatsworth, in southern
California. We are located near two major airports (LA
International and Burbank), UCLA, USC, CalTech and other
regional research centers.
Zoologix Inc.
9811 Owensmouth Avenue
Suite 4
Chatsworth CA 91311-3800
USA
Phone: 818-717-8880
Fax: 818-717-8881
Email:
info@zoologix.com
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