IDEXX VetLab®notes
Get the most value out of your IDEXX VetLab® system

Early Detection of Renal Disease Now Possible on the IDEXX VetTest® Chemistry Analyzer with the Urine P:C Ratio

To run the new IDEXX Urine P:C Ratio, you only need your VetTest analyzer. However, if you have other IDEXX analyzers or products, you should make sure you have updated to the most recent software version.

By the time azotemia is discovered in blood chemistries and renal disease is diagnosed, up to 75% of an animal's kidneys may be already destroyed. When renal disease results in azotemia, the animal is already in renal failure. While knowing an animal has kidney disease allows you to treat and manage the disease progression, having this knowledge before your patient develops azotemia is far more advantageous.

For years, researchers have looked for ways to better predict kidney disease. Even small amounts of protein in the urine can be abnormal, and recent research shows that persistent high urine protein:creatinine (UPC) ratios are linked to a poor prognosis in patients.¹ The ability to quantify the level of proteinuria in an animal's urine is being recognized as a key tool in helping diagnose and monitor early renal disease.

IDEXX is pleased to introduce the only fully quantitative in-house test for proteinuria, the Urine P:C Ratio.

The first test developed for urine on the VetTest, the Urine P:C Ratio has two brand new slides: urine protein (UPRO) and urine creatinine (UCRE). By running the new urine protein and urine creatinine slides, you can then calculate a urine protein:creatinine ratio. This test will be available in December, and can be ordered by calling IDEXX or an IDEXX-authorized distributor.

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Meet an IDEXX Product Manager

IDEXX product managers are responsible for all aspects of their products, from ensuring they meet the highest quality standards to training IDEXX sales and customer support representatives, and developing educational materials for veterinary practices.

As product manager for the IDEXX SNAP® Reader in Westbrook, Maine, Jen Mazjanis oversees the reader and its T₄ and cortisol assays. Jen is a licensed veterinary technician and has been an IDEXX employee for ten years. She notes that, "Having worked in a clinic setting for many years, I see the value of IDEXX offering many products that work together in a clinic to improve diagnostic capabilities and workflow while saving time and generating revenue."

Jen likes to spend time hiking and camping with her two children. Her most unusual pet was a Sonoran gopher snake named Hilda.

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frequently asked questions

Can I combine bloodwork on patients in two separate chemistry runs on the VetTest?

Yes. This feature is particularly useful if initial blood tests suggest the need to run additional tests (for instance, if a Preanesthetic Profile shows a high BUN and CREA, you want to run a PHOS as well.)

There are two ways to do this.

• The easiest way is to use the Current Sample feature. If you have just completed the patient's bloodwork and the patient's name is on the top of the VetTest main menu, selecting Current Sampling (menu option #2) allows you to skip the steps to enter the patient name. At the end of your second run, the results will automatically combine with your original tests.

• Another way to accomplish this is to use the New Sample feature. If you type in the patient name as it was originally typed, the VetTest will recognize that results already exist for this patient, and when it is finished, it will give you the option to combine the two results.

Note: If the second test run is the same analyte as the first test and you choose to combine them, the VetTest will replace the analyte in the original run with the new test result. If you would like to keep these results separate, run the second test as a New Sample and choose not to combine the results.

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Find out how to upgrade your in-house laboratory with the IDEXX VetLab®

Call IDEXX at 1-800-355-2896.

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did you know? by Michelle Kahn, MS, DVM

Raisins, and even grapes in large quantities, can be lethal to dogs. I first heard about this two years ago from a client who inquired about the toxicity of grapes. At the time, all I could think was... well, nothing really. Are grapes toxic? Was I skipping toxicology class that day? Is my age catching up with me so I'm already forgetting things? I admitted that I hadn't heard about it and promised to investigate, warning the owner of the risks of urban legends.

I went home that evening and started an ardent Web search. As it turns out, this was not an urban legend to ignore—the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has 10 reported cases on file. An article on their Web site details the typical progression of a toxic reaction.

Clinical signs of toxicity include an initial period of vomiting and hyperactivity followed by lethargy and depression. If not treated, the dog will succumb to renal failure. The first step in treatment is to initiate vomiting and administer activated charcoal. Dogs should be placed on IV fluids and hospitalized for a minimum of 48 hours post-exposure, monitoring blood chemistries daily for a minimum of three days following ingestion (to prevent acute renal failure). Some dogs may require more aggressive treatment, such as peritoneal dialysis. I guess the old homage is true—too much of anything is a bad thing.

By the way, I called three friends from vet school (only one of them had heard about this), and we all agreed that we never learned about this in toxicology class. It made me feel better about my memory, but it also made me wonder... what else is out there lurking about?

If you have any questions about this or any other potential toxins, please refer to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Web site at www.aspca.org/apcc, and make sure you pass the news along to all your raisin- and grape-loving patients.

To contact Dr. Kahn, send an e-mail to Didyouknow@idexx.com

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Also new for the IDEXX VetTest®
At IDEXX, our goal is to provide you with accurate, gold-standard technology and tools to help you provide the best care to your patients. Here's what's new for VetTest 2004.

12-Slide Packaging

You asked for individual chemistries in smaller quantities, so we've made it even more convenient for you to customize your diagnostic protocols. Choose from our full menu of 21 IDEXX VetTest chemistries, and get the exact information you need for each patient based on species and age differences, and tailor panels for disease and medication monitoring.

VetTest individual chemistries include:

A new panel for fast, affordable equine health testing. Choose our convenient panel of 12 essential chemistries, or create your own panels as needed using individual chemistries.

The Equine Health Profile includes:

Call your IDEXX distributor for more information about the Equine Health Profile, 12-slide packaging or Urine P:C Ratio.

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