FAQ
What does VacciCheck test for?
VacciCheck measures antibody levels in canines for Parvovirus, Distemper, and Infectious Hepatitis to determine vaccination status, and prevent consequences associated with over/under vaccination.
How long is it still good for after the expiration date?
VacciCheck has a shelf life of 1 year. Once a kit has passed its USDA regulated expiration date, it can no longer be guaranteed for accuracy and should be properly disposed.
How do I interpret the results?
Once your comb has been developed there will be 4 gray dots. A positive control, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Distemper, results are always relative to the positive control. Darker than the control indicates adequate protection, while a dot lighter than the control indicates less than adequate antibody protection.
Pricing is available to veterinarians, technicians and clinic staff only. Please call us at 800-553-1391 for pricing.
Does it need to be refrigerated?
VacciCheck should be kept refrigerated when not in use and brought to room temperature prior to being used. Exposure to extreme heat or direct sunlight may cause reagents to dissolve.
Each kit comes with 12 individual tests that may be run one at a time or in conjunction with others. The control is built into each strip so running one test or 12 tests uses only one strip per patient making it the most economical option.
Do I have to move the comb in each well?
VacciCheck is an ELISA test that requires the developing comb to be moved throughout the 6 rows and into each well, alternating 2 and 5 minutes (see directions for times). It is not necessary to be present during incubation times.
How much blood or serum does It need?
Just 5μ of serum or 10μ of whole blood.
Do the results fade over time?
No. Once the results have been developed they will stay developed.
Can I give the results a numerical value?
Yes! VacciCheck is semiquantitative and comes with a slide scale to match the grey dots on the developing comb with a correlating number.
VacciCheck has a shelf life of 1 year.
Is it a color change or a number?
Color change with a semiquantitative numerical scale.
What happens if I puncture a hole in a test that I’m not using?
As long as the reagents inside didn’t spill, it’s okay. Simply put a piece of scotch tape over the exposed hole.
No. Rabies is strongly regulated by the Government and testing must be done in a lab or research facility, such as Kansas State University.
Absolutely! Many clinics will collect samples throughout the week and keep them refrigerated to run together at one time. Each test is self-contained, ex. If you run 4 at a time, the other 8 will still be perfectly fine as long as the other columns remain sealed.
It is recommended to test yearly or as often as you are boostering.
Will this be good enough for my pet boarder so my dog can stay in their facility?
Every facility is different and has different requirements.
Where is the proof to back this up?
The sensitivity specificity as well as published journal articles, can all be found here.
Why is it shipped only Monday through Wednesday?
This is done as a precaution to ensure kits do not arrive during the weekend and are left in the sun.
How old does the dog need to be?
We recommend using VacciCheck on puppies no sooner than 19 weeks, or 2 weeks after the initial puppy vaccine protocol.
How should the kit be used in assessing puppy vaccination status
The recommended puppy protocol is to give the injections at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Prior to that maternal antibody will negate the vaccine. In a few cases even 16 weeks is still too soon and the puppy is not protected as expected. It is recommended to therefore use the test at 19 weeks to test for antibody and if negative to vaccinate one more time and then repeat the test again after two weeks. That way you can be certain that the dog is protected prior to its next titer test at 12 months rather than leaving an unvaccinated susceptible puppy for 8 months.
How can this test be used for shelters?
One of the most common uses of VacciCheck in shelter medicine is on intake. By titer testing, rather than vaccinating dogs with an unknown history, you can safely bypass any quarantines that may be required. This allows for quicker adoption and ensures the safety of all dogs in the shelter. The other is in the event of an outbreak, VacciCheck is used to determine which dogs are protected and safe, and which need to be quarantined.
Is there a discount for rescues and shelters?
Yes! We are happy to offer special pricing for any 501c3, be sure to mention this when ordering.