We are very fortunate to have an in-house laboratory that rivals any external laboratory in terms of the breadth of testing offered and the speed at which we can obtain results. Run by a dedicated laboratory technician, we offer a high-quality service and partake in a robust External Quality Assurance scheme, so you can be assured the results you receive are to the highest standard.
Alongside our routine testing, to include haematology (ProCyte), wet biochemistry (Biolis 30i) and electrolytes (i-SMART VET), we offer a host of other laboratory tests across a variety of disciplines, some of which are very specialist and not even available at external laboratories. We have two immunoassay analysers; the Mini Vidas, which allows us to run Canine and Feline T4 and Cortisol samples; and the VCheck, which runs quantitative CPLI and FPLI samples, Canine TSH and D-dimers, Canine and Feline ProBNP and the Canine and Feline inflammatory biomarkers – C-Reactive Protein and Serum Amyloid A respectively. We have a Catalyst One that we use to run SDMA, Progesterone, Phenobarbitone, UPCR, Fructosamine, LDH and Magnesium. We have a range of Idexx SNAP kits, to include Giardia, Leishmania and 4Dx (tick panel), and a number of point of care machines that can run blood ketones, ammonia, lactate, blood gases and ionised calcium. In cases of possible immune mediated haemolytic anaemia, we can run a Direct Antiglobulin Test (Coombs) to aid diagnosis and if a blood transfusion is required, we can type both canine and feline blood and crossmatch donor samples as necessary.
Our laboratory is unique in that it houses a comprehensive set of coagulation analysers, allowing us to assess for a multitude of coagulation disorders. Alongside the conventional coagulation tests of PT and APTT, which evaluate one isolated portion of the coagulation system, we are very lucky to have a Thromboelastograph (TEG) analyser, which allows global analysis of the coagulation system, including primary and secondary haemostasis and fibrinolysis. One of the benefits of Thromboelastography over other methods is it is run on whole blood, which allows evaluation of the interaction of coagulation proteins with the cellular components involved in haemostasis. Another benefit is the ability to detect a hypercoaguable state which most of the conventional tests cannot do, they are only capable of detecting abnormalities in clot formation (hypocoaguable state).
An Example of a Normal TEG Trace
In addition to the TEG, we can run Canine D-dimers, which is very useful to investigate cases of thromboembolic disease and DIC. In rare cases of platelet disorders, we can assess platelet function and monitor the effects of anti-platelet agents using our platelet aggregation analyser (Multiplate).
We have recently invested in the VetScan Imagyst, a system that uniquely combines expert diagnostic technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to offer faecal flotation, blood film analysis and digital cytology. The digital cytology has been an invaluable addition, with slides being uploaded, submitted, and reviewed by a remote expert pathologist within a matter of a few hours.
A new service we are offering is the production of platelet rich plasma, via the Companion Animal Therapies System. Whole blood is collected from the patient and spun down to create platelet rich plasma within less than an hour. This is then used to aid in the healing and repair of inflammatory conditions affecting joints and soft tissues, such as muscle and tendon injuries.