Diagnostic Edge Newsletter - IDEXX Education

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Welcome to the Diagnostic Edge, a monthly online newsletter that offers you case studies, technical tips, practice management updates, our popular interactive challenges, educational opportunities and much more. Information you can use now to help with the issues you face every day, and it's all online!

Not only can you benefit from the Diagnostic Edge, but you can also contribute! Share case studies, enter contests and give us your feedback. We want to hear from you! If you have questions, e-mail us at diagnosticedge@idexx.com.

Current Issue—August 2010

Education—Case study: 7-year-old, neutered male domestic shorthair, Austin
IDEXX Innovations—Dr. Rebar on the ProCyte Dx™ Hematology Analyzer
Technical Tip—Helpful Snippets for choosing SNAP® T₄ monitoring and screening snippets
IDEXX Learning Center
- Featured course: The ProCyte Dx™ Hematology Analyzer Certificate Course
- Online courses, Webinars and seminars
Research Corner—SNAP® Bile Acids Test compares well to laboratory method
Client Value—New, easy-to-use client education materials on idexx.com
Interactive Challenge—Interpret cells from a canine prostatic massage

Diagnostic Edge Archives

2010

July 2010

Education—Case study: 8-year-old, intact female German shepherd, Leia
IDEXX Innovations
- Now available: The ProCyte Dx™ Hematology Analyzer
- IDEXX Digital Imaging IDEXX-PACS™ 3.3 with improved work flow and enhanced integration
- Expanded integration capabilities for AVImark® and Infinity® users
Technical Tip—Screening for thyroid disease with results during the patient visit
IDEXX Learning Center
- 2010 IDEXX Cornerstone® User Conference highlight: new test-drive labs
- Online courses, seminars and Webinars
Research Corner—Four ACVIM abstracts on the performance of the new ProCyte Dx™ analyzer
Interactive Challenge—Identifying cell types in urine sediment from a dog

June 2010

Education—Case study: 5-week-old, intact male domestic shorthair, Alex
IDEXX Innovations
- Introducing the ProCyte Dx™ Hematology Analyzer for the most precise, accurate information
- Get the most complete and accurate information with IDEXX Vector-borne Disease Panels
Protocol Guidance—Real-time diagnosis with the SNAP® Cortisol Test
IDEXX Learning Center
- 2010 Cornerstone® User Conference
- Featured course: Coinfection and Disease: Importance of Multiple Vector-borne Infections in Dogs
- Online courses, seminars and Webinars
Research Corner—Which of your feline patients has heart disease? Join our study and find out.
Interactive Challenge—Identify organ systems of concern and additional testing for a 7-year-old dog

May 2010

Survey—Tell us how you share diagnostic results with clients; enter to win one of two $100 Visa® gift cards.
Education—Case study: 15-year-old, neutered male domestic shorthair, Ralph
IDEXX Learning Center—2010 Cornerstone® User Conference; online courses, seminars and Webinars
Research Corner—Summary: Detection of FPV using a commercial ELISA for CPV
Practice Management—Testimonial: Managing change that supports practice growth
Interactive Challenge—Identifying morphologic abnormalities in a canine blood sample

April 2010

Survey—Tell us how you share diagnostic results with clients; enter to win one of two $100 Visa® gift cards.
Education—Case study: 10-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair, Violet
IDEXX Innovations—Get our highest level of customer support: IDEXX SmartService™ Solutions
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips—Top five facts about feline heartworm disease; SNAP® Feline Triple® Test can help
Protocol Guidance—Article summary: Spring is high-risk season for Lyme disease infection
Creating Value for Your Clients—Diagnostic testing handout helps with client communication
Practice Management—Competing in a difficult economy: second in a series of technology articles
Interactive Challenge—Interpret clusters of cells in a fine-needle aspirate from a dog’s lung

March 2010

Survey—Tell us your standard appointment time: win a Visa® gift card
Education—Case study: 5-month-old, neutered male golden retriever, Willie
IDEXX Innovations—Turn the Catalyst Dx® Chemistry Analyzer on and watch your practice take off
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips
- The quick and easy SNAP T₄ Test
- IDEXX Customer Support line menu options for in-house analyzers and SNAP® products will change on March 8, 2010.
Protocol Guidance
- Strengthen your feline heartworm protocol and earn rebates at the same time
- The importance of routine fecal exams
Creating Value for Your Clients—Vomiting: A common complaint that deserves more attention
Practice Management—How can technology improve client relations? First in a series of articles
Interactive Challenge—Interpret structures in a canine urine sediment

February 2010

Survey—Tell us about your favorite client-education tool
Education—Case study: 10-year-old, spayed female German shepherd, Miss Kitty
IDEXX Innovations—Diagnosing and managing canine leptospirosis
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tip—Cardiopet® proBNP Test specimen protocol; pulmonary pattern recognition in digital radiography
Protocol Guidance—Senior dental preanesthetic screening for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
Practice Management—Four reasons to switch to electronic medical records
Creating Value for Your Clients—Video interview: Building client loyalty in a tough economy
Interactive Challenge—Interpretation of renal panel results for a 13-year-old, mixed-breed dog

January 2010

Health Watch—Confirmed Canine H1N1 Influenza Virus Infection—IDEXX RealPCR™ testing now available
Education—Case Study: 11-year-old, neutered male Yorkshire terrier, Bilbo
IDEXX Innovations—A more user-friendly IDEXX VetLab® Station touch screen
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tip—Save time and money with electronic SNAP® Test logs; LaserCyte® Certificate Course
Protocol Guidance—Are your preanesthetic protocols up-to-date?
Interactive Challenge—Identify aspects of a blood specimen from a 2-month-old Rottweiler

2009

December 2009

Health Watch—H1N1 confirmed in number of cats and ferrets—IDEXX RealPCR™ testing now available
Education—Case Study: 15-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair, Nikki
IDEXX Innovations—Cardiomyopathy in apparently healthy cats; enhanced medical notes for Cornerstone 8.0
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Creating Value for Your Clients—In or out? One veterinarian's perspective; new client organ overview handout
Interactive Challenge—Interpretation of a Wright's–stained submandibular lymph node specimen

November 2009

Health Watch—Keep an eye out for vomiting dogs this holiday season; it could be pancreatitis
Education—Case Study: 2-year-old, neutered male domestic shorthair, Gus
IDEXX Innovations—Improve your work flow with IDEXX SmartService™ Solutions
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tip—How to minimize radiation exposure: the ALARA principle
Protocol Guidance—
- T₄ testing for senior feline patients: a critical screening tool
- Feline heartworm disease: misunderstood and underdiagnosed
Creating Value for Your Clients—Create a clinic work flow that helps your staff talk with pet owners
Practice Management—SNAP Up The Savings: great savings and rebate opportunities
Interactive Challenge—Identify crystals and other structures in a canine urine sediment

October 2009

Education—Case Study: 11-week-old, female Catahoula leopard dog, Smokey Joe
IDEXX Innovations—
- Do more for less with the Catalyst Dx® Chemistry Analyzer
- Share more, see more through advancements in IDEXX Digital Imaging software
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month.
Technical Tip—Trending analyte values is an underutilized diagnostic tool
Research Corner—Two studies highlight:
- Evaluation of feline pancreas-specific lipase (Spec fPL®) for the diagnosis of feline pancreatitis
- The use of basal serum or plasma cortisol concentrations to rule out hypoadrenocorticism in dogs
Creating Value for Your Clients—A research summary on veterinarian-client communication
Practice Management—
- Use investments and tax breaks to boost profits
- SNAP Up the Savings 2010
Interactive Challenge—Review chemistry and urinalysis results to assess liver function and recommend additional diagnostics

September 2009

Education—Case Study: 2-year-old, spayed female chow mix, Sarah
IDEXX Innovations
- Reminder Card Service from IDEXX Cornerstone® Practice Management System—it's hassle-free
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month.
Technical Tips—Interpretive information at your fingertips for more meaningful client
Protocol Guidance
- Occult cardiomyopathy in healthy cats is far more prevalent than was thought
- SNAP® T₄ protocol guidelines for the SNAPshot Dx® Analyzer
Research Corner—Studies highlight pancreatitis in cats and dogs; see summaries.
Creating Value for Your Clients—What's the real cost of not having immediate results?
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Examine blood films to form a working differential and interpret a thrombon.

August 2009

Education—9-year-old, spayed female Bernese mountain dog, Aurora
IDEXX Innovations—FIV RealPCR™ Test; VetConnect® online Telemedicine submission tool
IDEXX Learning Center—See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips—Preparing your IDEXX-DR™ 1417 Digital Imaging System to capture radiographs
Protocol Guidance—Is albumin part of your preanesthetic testing protocol?
Creating Value for Your Clients—The results are normal? Share the good news!
Practice Management—Win a free practice-management consultation
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Examine a canine tracheal wash and form a differential diagnoses

July 2009

Education—2-year-old, spayed female Portuguese water dog, Sam
IDEXX Innovations—SNAP® 4Dx® Test is now available for the SNAPshot Dx® Analyzer
IDEXX Learning Center — Featured Topic: Product Training, see the online courses, product tutorials and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips: —Running the SNAP® 4Dx® Test with the SNAPshot Dx® Analyzer
Creating Value for Your Clients —Eleven ways to put your patient's diagnostic reports to work for you
Interactive Challenge —Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Identify urine sediment crystals and their significance in a canine sample

June 2009

Education—10-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair, Amber Rose
IDEXX Innovations—SNAP® 4Dx® Test for the SNAPshot Dx® Analyzer, The VetTest® Chemistry Analyzer just keeps getting better
IDEXX Learning Center — See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips: —New, easier specimen protocol for the Cardiopet™ proBNP Test, Important maintenance to ensure longevity of your IDEXX StatSpin® VT Centrifuge
Creating Value for Your Clients —The Client-Communication Work Flow
Interactive Challenge —Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Interpret a renal and hepatic panel and an SPE profile from an 11-year-old, neutered male golden retriever.

May 2009

Education—5-year-old, male neutered English bulldog, Quasimodo
IDEXX Innovations—Cardiopet™ proBNP Test now available, IDEXX Monitor™ Cornerstone® Dashboard report, Next-generation IDEXX Vector-borne Disease Panels for sick animal testing from IDEXX Reference Laboratories
IDEXX Learning Center — See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips: —Cleaning the Rollers of your IDEXX-CR™ 1417 Model 140 system
Creating Value for Your Clients —Show them you value their time as well as their pet's health
Interactive Challenge —Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Interpret a bloodfilm from an adult dog with heartworm disease and circulating microfilaria.

April 2009

Education—10-year-old, intact male dachshund, Doc
Protocol Guidance—In-house cortisol results: critical to real-time care
IDEXX Innovations: —SNAP® FIV/FeLV and SNAP® cPL™ for the SNAPshot Dx® Analyzer, Improved Urine Strip Vial Label, Streamline your laboratory test ordering
Training and Events — See the online courses, seminars and live Webinars available this month
Technical Tips: —Digital Radiography Positioning Guide: Recommended Beam Centers, Protect practice data with IDEXX VetVault®
Creating Value for Your Clients —Face-to-Face Client Communication: The Key to Compliance
Interactive Challenge —Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Interpret a cytologic preparation from the left thigh of an 8-year-old German shepherd.

March 2009

Health Watch—Peanut butter-flavored treats recalled in Salmonella investigation
Education—13-year-old female Yorkshire terrier, Chorong; Education and Expertise—IDEXX Reference Laboratories
Protocol Guidance—Maximizing diagnostic value with laboratory profiling
IDEXX Innovations—SNAP® FIV/FeLV and SNAP® cPL™ for the
SNAPshot Dx® Analyzer; IDEXX RealPCR™ Canine and Feline Diarrhea Panels
Training and Events—See the online courses, seminars, and live Webinars available this month
Tech Tip—Commonly Missed Radiographs, a helpful guide by Dr. Matt Wright
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Identify elements in a urine sample and describe ways to assist in the identification process.

February 2009

Education—5-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair, Annie
IDEXX Innovations—New test to maximize skin biopsy information; Electrolytes 8 Plus Available now; Increase check-in efficiency with patient ID cards
Training and Events—Webinars, seminars and online training opportunities available this month on the IDEXX Learning Center; Featured Offering: tutorials
Research Corner—Pancreatitis: Cats are not small dogs, by Jane Robertson, DVM, DACVIM
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Interpret the renal and hepatic panels from a 2-year-old, spayed female mixed-breed dog with ascites

January 2009

Education—10-year-old, spayed female Chihuahua, Tina
IDEXX Innovations—SNAP® Feline Triple™ screens for FIV, FeLV and heartworm; UPC, automated dilutions and electrolytes for the Catalyst Dx™ Analyzer; IDEXX Cornerstone® 7.6 with Pet ID cards and integration with Intuit® QuickBooks®
Training and Events—Webinars, seminars and online training opportunities available this month on the IDEXX Learning Center
Research Corner—Feline Heartworm Disease—Understanding the Role of Heartworm Infection in Respiratory Disease in Cats: Summary of a roundtable discussion
Practice Management—Time Will Tell: Treating the Time-Deficient Practice, Ernest Ward, Jr., DVM
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Identify a crystal and predominating background cells in urine sediment from a dog.

2008

December 2008

Education—10-month-old, neutered male domestic shorthair, Smoke
Health Watch—'Tis the season for pancreatitis—be prepared with comprehensive screening tests
IDEXX Innovations—IDEXX-CR™ 1417 Model 140 Digital Imaging System—outstanding image quality and easy-to-use controls
Training and Events—Webinars, seminars and online training opportunities available this month on the IDEXX Learning Center
Research Corner—Diagnosing and managing feline pancreatitis: A roundtable discussion summary
Practice Management—Investing in Diagnostics and Software as a Tax Strategy—Part 3
Technical Tips—Image handling and storing help from Cornerstone®
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Interpret an aspirate from the enlarged lymph node of a cat and suggest a possible cause for any changes present

November 2008

Education—9-year-old, spayed female Doberman pinscher, Lady
Health Watch—Mars Petcare U.S. expands voluntary recall
IDEXX Innovations—Spec fPL™: The first fast and affordable blood test for feline pancreas-specific lipase, exclusively from IDEXX Reference Laboratories; LabREXX® timesavers
Training and Events—IDEXX Learning Center update; Webinars, seminars and online training opportunities available this month
Research Corner—Assessing cardiac health in the 21st century: A summary
Protocol Guidance—Up-to-date preanesthetic testing protocols ensure best care for senior patients
Practice Management—Invest in diagnostics for significant tax savings—Part 2 of a 3–part series
Technical Tips—New guides help you learn the ins and outs of your IDEXX Digital Imaging system
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Identify erythrocyte-associated basophilic structures and classify the anemia in a peripheral blood film from an adult cat with acute onset lethargy, depression and anorexia

October 2008

Education—4-year-old intact, female Samoyed, Nala
Health Watch—New Pet Food Recall: Mars PetCare U.S. issues voluntary dry pet food recall
IDEXX Innovations—Get IDEXX SmartService™ Solutions, IDEXX's highest level of customer support; IDEXX Practice Profile™ from Cornerstone®; IDEXX Real PCR™ Respiratory Disease Prevalence Program; Spec fPL™ Test announcement
Training and Events—IDEXX Learning Center update; Webinars, seminars and online training opportunities available this month
Research Corner—Study illustrates importance of reticulocytes in differentiating anemias
Protocol Guidance—New American College of Veterinary Radiology guidelines for digital imaging
Practice Management—Invest in diagnostics for significant tax savings—Part 1 of a 3–part series
Technical Tips—Swab cats for IDEXX Real PCR™ Feline URD Panel; Rotate stock for best results and easier inventory management
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Interpret a hepatic panel and give the most reasonable cause for the changes shown by the results

September 2008

Education—14-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog, Arthur
Health Watch—Canine influenza virus strikes New Jersey—what you should know
IDEXX Innovations—September is Senior Care Month—special pricing on senior panels
Training and Events—See Webinars, seminars and online training opportunities available this month; Sign up now for Cornerstone® User Conference
Practice Management—Invest in diagnostics for significant tax savings
Technical Tips—New online tutorials for IDEXX-PACS™ 3.0 Imaging Software; new software envelopes
Subscribers Say—What do you think? We'd like to hear your opinions.
Interactive Challenge—Earn FREE continuing education credit in the United States, Australia and parts of Canada! Characterize morphologic findings and identify a leukocyte in a peripheral blood film from an EDTA anticoagulated blood specimen from an adult cat with diabetes

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