Canine infection test redesigned to create less laboratory wastage
Canine infection test redesigned to create less laboratory wastage
23 October 2019
New Randox Canine CRP Test
Canine infection test redesigned to create less laboratory wastage
A new smaller veterinary test kit for the diagnosis of viral and bacterial infections in dogs has been unveiled by global diagnostics company Randox Laboratories.
Suitable for the testing of a wide range of breeds, the test, which monitors levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) produced by the liver in response to inflammation, infection and tissue injury, has been redesigned in a smaller size to reduce consumable wastage.
Randox Canine CRP can diagnose conditions such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), cystitis (a bladder infection) and inflammatory bowel disease, and can also be used to establish if a dog is pregnant.
Lynsey Adams, Randox Clinical Marketing Manager, commented;
“The redesign of our Canine CRP kit size, which has reduced the volume of the CRP reagent for the diagnosis of canine infection, means that laboratories will produce less waste, and ultimately, be more cost-effective.
“The wide measuring range of this test allows for slight variations of normal ranges across different canine species and ensures accurate results for all breeds.”
Concentration levels of CRP elevate in the blood of canines much earlier post-injury or infection than other biomarkers. This rapid response following trauma (usually within 4 to 6 hours), as well as the fact that CRP levels return to normal quickly at the end of an acute episode, make Canine CRP useful for both the detection of acute inflammation episodes and the monitoring of its treatment, such as steroids or antibiotics.
Lynsey continued;
“As in humans, CRP is used as a marker of inflammatory activity, but with the Randox Canine CRP test, which uses the same high-quality materials as our human assay, CRP can also be tested in dogs to establish a range of viral and bacterial infections.
“As CRP in healthy dogs is present in low concentrations (5 mg/dl), but can elevate to 600 mg/dl, testing for this biomarker can not only detect inflammation but also provide information on its severity.”
The new test from Randox enhances an already comprehensive veterinary test menu of high performance and superior animal health assays including Bile Acids, D-3 Hydroxybutyrate (Ranbut), Glutathione Peroxidase (Ransel) and Total Antioxidant Status, for agriculture and livestock, companion animals, university and research institutes, and the sports industry.
Randox veterinary solutions also include quality control, external quality assessment (EQA) and the RX series range of clinical chemistry analysers.
Lynsey concluded;
“We have over 30 years’ experience as a supplier to the veterinary market and are proud to be able to offer veterinarians and other professionals in the animal health industry, tests which are of the highest quality, accuracy and efficiency.
“Offering the complete veterinary diagnostics package of clinical chemistry analysers, reagents, and quality control, Randox is transforming the landscape of veterinary diagnostics, by providing a time and cost effective, flexible and versatile approach to animal health testing.”
Benefits of the new Randox Canine CRP Kit
- Immunoturbidimetric method.
- New kit size – R1 2 x 18.1ml, R2 2 x 5ml offering efficiencies in cost and reagent wastage.
- Wide measuring range of 0.8 – 220mg/dl for the comfortable detection of clinically important results. CRP in healthy dogs can be found at levels below 35 mg/L, therefore Randox Canine CRP comfortably detects abnormal levels.
- In addition, a wide measuring range allows for slight variations of normal ranges across different canine species and ensures accurate results for all.
- Liquid ready-to-use reagents for convenience and ease of use.
- Calibrator included in the kit offering a cost effective canine CRP testing solution.
- Dedicated canine CRP controls available offering a complete testing package.
- Instrument specific applications available for a wide range of clinical chemistry instruments.
For further information about Randox’s New Canine CRP kit please visit https://www.randox.com/canine-crp/ or contact marketing@randox.com
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Protecting Pets from the Threat of Mycotoxins
Pet Food companies worldwide are working towards constantly improving and maximising the quality of their product. The problematic topic of mycotoxin contamination in pet feed is quickly becoming a major cause for concern. This is due to the risk they pose for animal health and with the increasing prevalence of mycotoxins globally the focus is on pet food companies to meet EU and FDA regulations and maximise the quality of their product.
What are Mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring metabolites that are produced by certain moulds and with the ability to develop and grow on a variety of crops they can affect large amounts of feed and increasingly, pet food. If a sample tests positive even for low levels of contamination the toxins are still strong enough to cause illness in animals, and if low levels are consumed over a long period of time this can result in chronic illnesses including; cancer, organ damage and neurological disorders.
The main mycotoxins of concern in pet food are;
- Deoxynivalenol (DON)
- Fumonisins (FUM)
- Zearalenone (ZEN)
- Aflatoxins
- Ochratoxin
- T-2 Toxin
Contamination can occur in any country around the world and at any stage of production. Herein lies the issue of how to prevent mycotoxin pollution, to tackle the issue head on and work towards a mycotoxin free product is the joint responsibility of feed producers, supply chain partners and quality control laboratories ensuring the complete safety of the product.
How can you tell if an animal has ingested pet food contaminated with mycotoxins?
In terms of animal health, mycotoxins can cause a variety of problems. Severity and symptoms can vary from animal to animal but general symptoms include; hyperactivity, vomiting, high temperature and loss of coordination. If you suspect your pet has been affected by mycotoxins you must bring them to the vet for immediate treatment.
The European Union currently regulate all the mycotoxins listed above and are subject to maximum or recommended residue limits. In the US, FDA regulations are limited to aflatoxins, DON and fumonisins, see table below for FDA regulations. If mycotoxin levels in feed fail to meet FDA standards, mass amounts of feed may need to be destroyed as grain producers are prohibited from mixing contaminated feed with clean feed to reduce the mycotoxin levels.
| Pets | Mycotoxin | Commodity | Level |
| Immature Animals | Aflatoxins | Corn/ peanut/ other ingredients | 20 ppb |
| Adult Pets | Aflatoxins | Corn/ peanut/ cottonseed meal/ other ingredients | 20 ppb |
| DON | Grain/ grain byproducts, not to exceed 40% of diet | 5 ppm | |
| Fumonisins | Corn/ corn byproducts, not to exceed 50% of the diet | 10 ppm |
How do we tackle the problem?
Safe, reliable screening solutions for different variations of mycotoxins are available that can ensure only mycotoxin free feed is produced. Randox Food Diagnostics have created mycotoxin screening platforms as a response to increased levels of mycotoxins being found in feed globally.
The platforms use patented Biochip Array Technology (BAT) so pet food producers can test for multiple toxins from a single sample. Randox Food Diagnostics have a range of mycotoxin Biochip Arrays available with customised arrays available to suit the specific screening needs of certain producers. Each Biochip format uses a straightforward extraction process with a 50µl sample of feed, available tests include; Fumonisins, Ochratoxin A, Aflatoxin G1/G2, Aflatoxin B1, Paxiline, Ergot Alkaloids, Diacetoxyscirpenol, Deoxynivalenol, T2 Toxin and Zearalenone.
For more information on mycotoxin screening with Randox Food Diagnostics contact info@randoxfooddiagnostics.com
