NEWS
Published on Nov 20, 2024
- FCoV serology
Dear customers, with immediate effect we no longer offer antibody detection against feline coronaviruses. You can send in PCR samples as usual. The corresponding application form for cats has been updated, you can find it in the download area. - Borna antibody determination
Some adjustments were made to the implementation and evaluation of Borna immunofluorescence. The changes affect both the detection of antibodies in mammals (anti-BoDV Ab) and in birds (anti-PaBV Ab). The adjustment is based on the evaluation of past external and internal interlaboratory tests.
The following changes have been made:
- Titer level 1:10 is no longer applicable; Due to the high serum concentration in this dilution level, there is often strong background fluorescence the assessment of a sample is made more difficult.
- Titer level 1:40 will be classified as questionable for all species in the future.
- the last titer level is now 1:10240 instead of the previous 1:2560; It has been shown that highly positive sera are often not yet titrated at 1:2560.
The titer levels will therefore be as follows in the future:
< 1:40 negative
1:40 questionable
1:160 / 1:640/ 1:2560 / 1:10240 positive
CSF samples remain unaffected by the changes and are examined as before in two stages (+ undiluted), with each titer being considered positive. The evaluation is significantly easier because there is significantly less background fluorescence with this test material, which has a low cell count.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at any time by phone or email.
The following changes have been made:
- Titer level 1:10 is no longer applicable; Due to the high serum concentration in this dilution level, there is often strong background fluorescence the assessment of a sample is made more difficult.
- Titer level 1:40 will be classified as questionable for all species in the future.
- the last titer level is now 1:10240 instead of the previous 1:2560; It has been shown that highly positive sera are often not yet titrated at 1:2560.
The titer levels will therefore be as follows in the future:
< 1:40 negative
1:40 questionable
1:160 / 1:640/ 1:2560 / 1:10240 positive
CSF samples remain unaffected by the changes and are examined as before in two stages (+ undiluted), with each titer being considered positive. The evaluation is significantly easier because there is significantly less background fluorescence with this test material, which has a low cell count.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at any time by phone or email.
- Borna antibody determination in horse sera
UPDATE: an anti-species conjugate has been delivered and already been tested. We are now doing everything we can to process and evaluate the sera as quickly as possible. We apologize again for the delay and thank you for your patience!
Background: due to a shortage of an anti-species conjugate, no serum or cerebrospinal fluid samples from horses could be examined in recent weeks. Other species were not affected, nor was serology in the area of avian bornaviruses.
Background: due to a shortage of an anti-species conjugate, no serum or cerebrospinal fluid samples from horses could be examined in recent weeks. Other species were not affected, nor was serology in the area of avian bornaviruses.
- Counterfeit protection for certificates
Unfortunately, the rabies certificates we issue are often subject to forgery. Therefore, we do not send color copies and scans sent by email have a watermark. In addition, our original certificates now have copy protection. When trying to make a copy, "invalid" is displayed in the background.
- Return of herd / kennel specific vaccines
We can send finished vaccines to our customers using GO-Express. Shipments are delivered to the customer and can tracked. For the costs please inquire. - Increased amount of samples
We are currently receiving an unusually large number of samples for rabies antibody determination. We strive to process the samples as quickly as possible. We kindly ask for your patience if you currently have to wait for a result longer than usual. We also ask for your understanding that we cannot give preference to individual samples, as this would be unfair to everyone else. Thank you for your understanding.
- Telephone availability
You can now reach us by telephone at the following times: Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Outside the specified times, you can reach us by email. If your request relates to a sample that is or is to be examined by us, please always have a reference ready (ref.no. or invoice number or microchip of the animal) so that we can process your request even more quickly.
- Import of samples (from outside the EU)
According to information provided by customs in Germany, the serum samples for the detection of antibodies against the rabies virus are "test goods without commercial value" according to Article 95 et seq. of the Customs Exemption Ordinance. For this reason, we ask you not to enclose a pro forma invoice with the samples, but to indicate the declaration "test goods without commercial value" when shipping.
In order to ensure the handling of your samples, please note the following points:
In order to ensure the handling of your samples, please note the following points:
- the contents must be correctly labelled/declared: "Blood samples (serum) from dogs/cats/ferrets for rabies titer determination (duty-exempt) for import into the EU",
- if they choose DTP service ("duty taxes paid" all costs are borne by the sender),
- they indicate "test goods with no commercial value".
The above information must be clearly visible on the outside of the package (e.g. in the shipping bag).
- Digitally signed certificates
On request, we can create digitally signed certificates and send them by e-mail (please specify in the submission form). The digital signature corresponds to a so-called "advanced signature" according to the EU Signature Directive and national legislation. The authenticity of the signature is guaranteed by our contractual partner GobalSign®.
Please note that digitally signed certificates can't be changed afterwards. For this reason, before the final issuance, you will receive a sample of the certificate for information and confirmation. For this service we charge EUR 5,- plus tax.
Please note that digitally signed certificates can't be changed afterwards. For this reason, before the final issuance, you will receive a sample of the certificate for information and confirmation. For this service we charge EUR 5,- plus tax.
- Prices 2023
Dear customers,
Our laboratory is also not spared from supply bottlenecks and general price increases. Despite everything, we have been able to maintain our service to the usual extent. However, we now have to respond to the significant increases in the cost of consumables. Therefore, we will inevitably carry out an adjustment of our prices from 1.1.2023. Please note that we always invoice the sending practice. We ask for your understanding.
Our laboratory is also not spared from supply bottlenecks and general price increases. Despite everything, we have been able to maintain our service to the usual extent. However, we now have to respond to the significant increases in the cost of consumables. Therefore, we will inevitably carry out an adjustment of our prices from 1.1.2023. Please note that we always invoice the sending practice. We ask for your understanding.
- Omission of pet owner data
Since November 1st 2022, we have refrained from listing the data of pet owners on our certificates / results.
On the one hand, this data is not essential for a certificate. The latter must clearly refer to the respective animal, while owners can change. Due to the strict data protection regulations in the EU (EU-DSGVO) we have to omit unnecessary data.
And finally, the names and addresses of owners are always sources of error. If the address is incorrect, the worst case scenario is that the report and/or invoice cannot be delivered. As an accredited laboratory, we are obliged to reclaim incorrect certificates in order to be able to make a change. This means that typing errors cannot be corrected quickly "just like that".
On our currently valid application forms there is no longer an option to enter the data of the owners, this applies to the reporting as well as the invoicing. Invoices will therefore generally also be issued to the sender in the future.
On the one hand, this data is not essential for a certificate. The latter must clearly refer to the respective animal, while owners can change. Due to the strict data protection regulations in the EU (EU-DSGVO) we have to omit unnecessary data.
And finally, the names and addresses of owners are always sources of error. If the address is incorrect, the worst case scenario is that the report and/or invoice cannot be delivered. As an accredited laboratory, we are obliged to reclaim incorrect certificates in order to be able to make a change. This means that typing errors cannot be corrected quickly "just like that".
On our currently valid application forms there is no longer an option to enter the data of the owners, this applies to the reporting as well as the invoicing. Invoices will therefore generally also be issued to the sender in the future.
The only exception remains our recipe for vaccine production. Here we are still obliged to report the data of senders and owners to the authorities once a year. Therefore, the full name and address of pet owners must be entered on the prescription.
We hope to meet the requirements for data protection and to avoid unnecessary sources of error in the future. If you have any questions, you can contact us at any time by telephone or email. Thank you for your understanding.
- Sending of certificates
- As a result of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, postal traffic with many countries is restricted or suspended. Certificates are therefore mostly sent by email. Please inform yourself about ways to get a certificate sent to you.
- Detection of SARS-CoV2 in pets
- We have set up a test for SARS-CoV2 RNA in samples from pets. We can test swabs (nasal- or pharyngeal swabs), blood samples (EDTA blood), faeces and organ samples.