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IDEXX SDMA Test now available for equine patients

About SDMA

SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) is a novel kidney test that has recently been enabling veterinarians to diagnose kidney disease earlier than traditional diagnostics in dogs and cats.1–3 It has been shown to increase in both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). SDMA is also specific for kidney function and has been shown to be less impacted by extrarenal factors, including body condition, advanced age, and disease state.4,5 Because of the advantages SDMA brings for assessing kidney function, IDEXX has been investigating its use in other species, including horses.

Ordering information

IDEXX SDMA Test
Test code 3638 

  • Specimen requirements: 1 mL serum (preferred) or 1 mL EDTA or heparinized plasma (LTT or GNTT; spun and separated)
  • Turnaround time: 8:00 a.m.
  • Create requisitions and review status and results on vetconnectplus.com.

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IDEXX Reference Laboratories is pleased to announce the availability of the IDEXX SDMA Test for use in horses

 

SDMA has the potential to be a powerful diagnostic tool in horses, especially in situations where a sensitive indicator of kidney function is needed, such as monitoring of at-risk patients during therapy (e.g., equine athletes, geriatric horses on NSAIDs, or septic patients receiving potentially nephrotoxic antibiotics). In order to provide SDMA as a diagnostic option for horses, IDEXX Reference Laboratories took part in two clinical studies. These studies validated the IDEXX SDMA Test in horses and also established reference intervals for equine SDMA. The use of the IDEXX SDMA Test in horses was validated through comparison of results for 178 horses to the gold standard method, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS).6 This study confirmed that the IDEXX SDMA Test was able to accurately and specifically detect SDMA in equine blood. Following the validation, a reference interval study on healthy adult horses was performed.6 IDEXX followed the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for determining our equine SDMA reference interval.7 Clinically healthy populations of adult horses of various breeds and sizes were enrolled into the study. Animals characterized as healthy based on history and physical examination were used to establish the reference intervals.

The SDMA reference interval for horses was determined to be 0–14 ug/dL, the same as those seen in dog and cats.

NOTE: The IDEXX SDMA Test is included in our equine panels and profiles at no additional charge.

References

  1. Nabity MB, Lees GE, Boggess M, et al. Symmetric dimethylarginine assay validation, stability, and evaluation as a marker for early detection of chronic kidney disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2015;29(4):1036–1044.
  2. Hall JA, Yerramilli M, Obare E, Yerramilli M, Jewell DE. Comparison of serum concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine as kidney function biomarkers in cats with chronic kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med. 2014;28(6):1676–1683.
  3. Hall JA, Yerramilli M, Obare E, Yerramilli M, Almes K, Jewell DE. Serum concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine in dogs with naturally occurring chronic kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med. 2016;30(3):794–802.
  4. Hall JA, Yerramilli M, Obare E, Yerramilli M, Yu S, Jewell DE. Comparison of serum concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine as kidney function biomarkers in healthy geriatric cats fed reduced protein foods enriched with fish oil, L-carnitine, and medium-chain triglycerides. Vet J. 2014;202(3):588–596.
  5. Hall JA, Yerramilli M, Obare E, Yerramilli M, Melendez LD, Jewell DE. Relationship between lean body mass and serum renal biomarkers in healthy dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2015;29(3):808–814.
  6. Data on file at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Westbrook, Maine USA
  7. CLSI. Defining, Establishing, and Verifying Reference Intervals in the Clinical Laboratory; Approved Guideline—Third Edition. CLSI document EP28-A3c. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2008.