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Get
the most value out of your IDEXX VetLab®
System Winter
2006 Issue
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Run plasma samples three times faster and
more easily than serum
Use
your IDEXX VetTest® Chemistry
Analyzer and StatSpin® centrifuge
for results in just eight minutes
With the VetTest® analyzer,
you can get fast, accurate results for a quicker assessment of your
patient’s health and more immediate treatment decisions. In addition,
using the Becton Dickinson lithium-heparin gel tube (BD™
Microtainer® tube) reduces the
risk of errors or failed tests, so you can be even more confident in
your results.
Running plasma on your VetTest analyzer is not only fast,
it’s easy! And more accurate for certain chemistries. (see make a note)
Choosing a BD gel tube and plasma completely eliminates the need
for clotting a sample, a process that takes a full 20 minutes. When
plasma is introduced to the anticoagulant as quickly as possible,
fibrin will not have an opportunity to begin forming. By using a BD
gel tube, which contains a gel barrier, you can ensure that the plasma
is quickly separated from fibrin or impurities and that it remains
separated.
With the two-minute StatSpin spin time and six minutes to results
from the VetTest analyzer, you have results in as little as eight
minutes. Why wait any longer than you have to?
For more information about the StatSpin high-speed centrifuge, BD
gel tubes (part number 98-13197-01) or the VetTest analyzer, call
1-800-248-2483.
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make a note
Plasma is the preferred sample to run on the VetTest analyzer.
It is faster, easier and more accurate for certain
chemistries.
Running plasma rather than serum is fast, but in many cases, it is
also recommended for more accurate results.
You must allow serum to clot for twenty minutes before you spin
it down. Plasma has an anticoagulant added to prevent clotting, and
you can spin it down immediately after you collect it, so natural
chemical changes to the sample are minimized.
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Lactate: You must remove
plasma from blood cells within five minutes of collection because
lactate values increase steadily over time. To get an accurate
reading, plasma must be used.
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Glucose: Glucose values
decrease steadily over time, so the sooner you remove the sample
from the cells, the better.
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Ammonia (NH3):
Plasma must be separated from the freshly collected blood sample
rapidly. Ammonia will be produced by cells in the blood following
sample collection. Values will change dramatically unless you
process the sample quickly. Serum samples may show elevated levels
of NH3.
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Total Protein: Fibrinogen,
which is transformed to fibrin during the clotting process, is a
protein that is not included in the total protein measurement when
serum is used. A true reflection of the total protein content of a
blood sample can most accurately be measured when using a plasma
specimen.
Run plasma for faster, easier and more accurate results, and
better treatment decisions.
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Meet Tammi Lesser
 Tammi
has worked at IDEXX for over six years. She is the product manager for
the LaserCyte® Hematology
Analyzer and the QBC®
VetAutoread™ Hematology Analyzer.
A licensed veterinary technician, Tammi received her bachelor
degree in animal science from Cornell University and worked in an
emergency practice for many years. She notes that she has seen the
standard of care for animals continue to improve, especially over the
past decade.
“IDEXX products have been at the forefront of that advancement.
We’re a reliable resource for the veterinary profession, providing the
most progressive, accurate and updated information concerning the
diagnosis and management of animal disease. We’re dedicated to helping
people through the animals they love.”
Tammi enjoys spending time with her family: her husband, John (who
is also an IDEXXer); her two children, Jake and Ali; their two cats,
Fat-Boy and Sticks; their dog, Abby; and two chickens, Sponge Bob
and Alfalfa.
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did you
know?
All
About NSAID
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are among the most
commonly prescribed and widely used arthritis drugs in veterinary
medicine, but recent advances and several new products have made this
class of drugs a bit perplexing. Furthermore, the recent removal of
Vioxx® from the human market has
confused many pet owners who now have a lot of questions and concerns
about the use of these drugs for their pets.
There are two main types of NSAIDs: salicylates (aspirin) and COX-2
selective inhibitors (carprofen). NSAIDs work by blocking the activity
of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, also known as COX. The COX enzyme has
two forms: COX-1, which protects the stomach lining from harsh acids
and digestive chemicals and also helps maintain kidney function, and
COX-2, which is produced when joints are injured or inflamed. Both the
COX-1 and COX-2 isoenzymes decrease prostaglandin production.
Traditional NSAIDs (such as aspirin) block the actions of both
COX-1 and COX-2, which is why they can cause stomach upset and
bleeding, as well as ease pain and inflammation. The newer generation
NSAIDs are more selective and primarily target the COX-2 enzyme that
influences the inflammatory response. Because they do not block the
actions of the COX-1 enzyme, these medications generally don’t cause
the significant GI side effects that traditional NSAIDs do. Even so,
these drugs can have potentially dangerous side effects.
The following is a list of ways to minimize the risk and the
severity of side effects related to long-term NSAID therapy:
- Always use
the lowest therapeutic dose.
- Run
bloodwork before testing. Establishing a baseline not only identifies
potential underlying disorders, but also has the benefit of serving
as a reference for future enzyme monitoring.
- Make sure
your clients know not to give a traditional NSAID or steroid to their
pets already taking a COX-2 inhibitor. This significantly potentates
the development of dangerous side effects.
- Giving
NSAIDs on a full stomach often alleviates some of the stomach upset
associated with their use.
- Monitor
these patients frequently. A complete physical exam and bloodwork to
screen for early signs of liver and kidney injury can identify
problems before the development of overt disease.
- Only
veterinary-approved drugs should be used in dogs and cats. We all
know what happens when you give a kitty Tylenol®, but your clients may not. Make
sure you educate them that their pets should be given medications
(even over-the-counter ones) only with your consent. This should be a
part of every new client consultation.
- Always
check with the manufacturer of the NSAID for potential drug
interactions before giving other meds to a dog or cat. Some drugs
become less effective when given concurrently with NSAIDs, and others
can become more toxic. It is important to always check before
prescribing additional medications!
To contact Dr. Kahn, e-mail
Didyouknow@idexx.com.
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Two
Special Offers
for the StatSpin® high-speed
centrifuge
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Now monitoring your patients on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) therapy is easy. The NSAID Monitoring Panel consists of five
chemistries (ALKP, ALT, AST, BUN and CREA) targeted at the liver and
kidneys, those organs most at risk for patients on NSAID therapy. The
panel is conveniently packaged in a freezer tray with twelve panels
per tray, making protocol implementation easy.
While a comprehensive baseline is recommended before initiation of
NSAID therapy, the NSAID Monitoring Panel should be used during the 7-
to 10-day trial period and every six months to a year throughout the
length of therapy. The panel provides a complete, cost-effective
screen that allows doctors to closely monitor the health status of
their patients while following FDA recommendations. With the shift in
vaccine requirements, medication monitoring gives you a solid medical
reason to have your patients come in for annual visits.
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2005
IDEXX new products year in review
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IDEXX
Laboratories Announces 3,500th LaserCyte® Hematology Analyzer Installation
IDEXX Laboratories is pleased to announce that Walton Lodge
Veterinary Group in Kingshill, Ware, UK, became the 3,500th LaserCyte® analyzer owner worldwide when their
instrument was installed on July 29 of this year.
 Walton Lodge was looking to upgrade their veterinary
hospital’s hematology system and felt the LaserCyte analyzer had
superior capabilities. Other practices in their area were already
using the LaserCyte analyzer and had shared their enthusiasm for the
instrument.
Tanya McConiskie, a veterinary nurse at Walton Lodge, had this to
say about adding the LaserCyte analyzer to their in-house laboratory,
“It’s so easy to use, and very reliable as well. We like seeing the
graphs that show trends for specific animals and the patient's blood values over time. A lot of customers don’t
realize what goes into their pets’ treatments, but they feel a lot
happier when they can see the graphs and we can explain what’s going
on.”
Wladimir Knysch, senior marketing manager for Europe at IDEXX,
notes “The LaserCyte hematology in-house analyzer has been a
tremendous success in Europe, providing the veterinary community with
cutting-edge technology for use in their practices. This analyzer
delivers a CBC with a true five-part differential and absolute
reticulocytes using laser-flow cytometry, yet it’s very easy to use.”
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IDEXX
Customer Support is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Toll-free: 1-800-248-2483
Fax: 1-800-248-3010
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