Petscreen?

Re: Petscreen?

Mark Holmes — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:19:30 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I've sent 3 samples for the lymphoma markers to them in the last month, all sampled and prepared according to their criteria. All were sent because of non-specific illness characterised by hypercalcaemia but none had peripheral lymphadenopathy. All came back positive. Their final diagnoses were: 1) splenic haemangioma, 2) Addison's Disease, 3) Pulmonary Carcinoma (FNA of thoracic mass highly suspicious of PC no evidence of lymphoma). When this test first became available I saw it as a giant leap forward like PCR testing, or TKI's for treating cancers but was disillusioned after several samples came back negative when they had been positively diagnosed as lymphoma from biopsy. Indeed I can only think of one that was consistent with histological findings. It is a pity because I want to believe in this test if it was reliable, which is why I tried it again, and it would be very helpful but I can't help thinking: they've changed the collection criteria so often that if it needed to change: 'how can I rely on any of the results'. I've never tried the directed chemotherapy test so can't comment on that but given the few options we have for chemo I wonder what use it would be.

[/quote]

Thank you for this - I don't think I'll be using it again.

That said my negatives have been correct but then the odds were they were negative anyway.

Re: Petscreen?

Richard Fox — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:10:20 GMT

Yes Alex - my thoughts too

Re: Petscreen?

Alex Gough — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:27:00 GMT

A bit of a concern how long this test has been around without peer-reviewed literature to support it I think. I first looked into the directed chemotherapy assay thing nearly 10 years ago, and still havent seen anything published about it.

Alex

Re: Petscreen?

Richard Fox — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:53:50 GMT

Thanks for the responses - I am interested from a personal POV as I can only read literature and chat to other vets about this but a lot of this fits with my current perspective

Re: Petscreen?

Andrew Kent — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:07:14 GMT

I think they are a load of crap and a waste of money

Re: Petscreen?

Mark Holmes — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:35:08 GMT

I have used the lymphoma test very occasionally. Not in those dogs where you can get an aspirate easily but when I have suspected mediasteinal or alimentary lymphoma. The former being difficult to access the latter difficult to interpret unless taken full thickness. We don't have a handy endoscope and whilst I could get one sent from another clinic the blood sample was easier given the timing. They were helpful but a smear is usually quicker and cheaper if you can get an aspirate.

Re: Petscreen?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:29:44 GMT