For complete information about our tests and panels, specimen requirements, or submittal information, visit the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Test and Price Information Database.
The following are the most common tests run by our laboratory. If you are unsure of what test to order, contact us at clinpath@colostate.edu.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): A CBC evaluates the number of circulating white and red blood cells and platelets. This test can be useful to identify infection, anemia, adequate blood cell production, and certain types of cancers.
Platelet Count: Provides an automated count and slide review to evaluate platelet morphology.
Reticulocyte Count: Evaluates for red blood cell regeneration.
Fibrinogen (semi-quantitative): The heat precipitation method provides an estimate of fibrinogen, a marker of inflammation.
This tests for IgG antibodies, which can bind to red blood cells when a patient has diseases such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia. We only perform Coombs testing in dogs, cats, and horses.
Blood typing determines blood type by identifying proteins on the surface of blood cells. In dogs, we blood type for DEA 1. In cats, we blood type for the A/B system. Cross-matching finds compatible blood types for situations such as blood transfusions. We don’t offer crossmatching to clients outside the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
These tests investigate coagulation factors (also referred to as blood clotting factors). Low or absent factors indicate the cause of bleeding disorders. This testing often is performed if a patient has excessive bleeding or prolonged bruising.
Urinalysis assesses the health and function of the urinary system can help detect urinary tract diseases, liver failure, and hemolysis. Urine chemistry is also available for Urine protein:Creatinine, and fractional excretion of Calcium, Chloride, potassium, sodium, or phosphorous.
Blood gas analysis measures the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide and pH in the blood.
Sample collection and handling can dramatically affect the accuracy and clinical utility of blood gas analysis, including ionized calcium. We have found that samples mailed in for blood gas/ionized calcium analysis are unreliable and do not recommend mailing in samples for this testing. Please call the lab at (970) 297-1290 with questions about sample handling prior to collecting from local clinic patients.
Cytology focuses on the investigation of disease processes by examining tissue samples microscopically. Cells are evaluated individually under high magnification with the purpose of diagnosing types of inflammation, infectious agents, types of cancer, or other tissue abnormalities. Often, cytology can guide the next diagnostic step in patient evaluation.
Digital Photos With Cytology Specimens
When submitting specimens for cytological examination, we encourage you to include digital photos of any pertinent anatomical features that may aid our pathologists in making their diagnosis. Email the following information so we can match your pictures with the specimen to clinpath@colostate.edu.
Immunocytochemical labeling uses antibodies targeting markers both on and within the cell. It can be used to determine what type of cell is present. The technique is most informative when used to identify the type of neoplastic cell identified by routine cytology. It can also be used to identify cells that would not normally be present in the location (i.e. epithelial cells in an abdominal fluid sample). Immunocytochemical labeling typically is rarely informative on samples that were deemed inclusive or suspicious by routine cytology (i.e. clearly reactive lymph nodes with suspicion of lymphoma).
Submission tips for successful ICC results:
Cytochemical staining is a general term for a group of stains that detect specific chemical features. These can be performed on unstained or previously Romanowski stained slides and add information that cannot be easily confirmed by routine cytology staining. The following tests are performed in the laboratory:
Results: All cytochemical staining submissions must have routine cytology to confirm that the slides are appropriate for evaluation. Results will include the routine cytology description, description of the cytochemical staining, and interpretation of the case.
Available tests interpreted by the clinical pathology laboratory
These tests can be added to cytology evaluation. The staining is performed in the CSU VDL histopathology laboratory and evaluated by clinical pathologists.
Protein electrophoresis and immunofixation allow a more detailed evaluation of the protein profile than a biochemical total protein, albumin, and globin. These tests help to confirm the presence of an immunoglobulin-secreting tumor and other protein changes. Electrophoresis must be performed on the same sample at CSU if immunofixation is performed.
When looking for complete monoclonal/biclonal gammopathy in the serum:
Monoclonal/biclonal gammopathy. Monoclonal plasma cells and lymphocytes typically produce a single immunoglobulin clone (called an M-protein) resulting in a monoclonal gammopathy. Monoclonal gammopathies are seen as a narrow, distinct band in the electrophoresis with labels with a single immunoglobulin class by immunofixation. Many monoclonal gammopathies dimerize and produce a biclonal appearance and we have detected truly biclonal gammopathies (i.e., production of 2 different heavy chain classes in the same patient).
A monoclonal gammopathy can produce significantly high total protein and globulin concentrations that alter plasma viscosity or interfere with clotting. Monoclonal gammopathy can also occur with low concentrations of serum M-protein that do not increase the serum total protein and globulin concentration. Current data suggests that about 30% of patients with a monoclonal gammopathy will have a total protein concentration within reference intervals and that about 10% of patients with a monoclonal gammopathy will have a globulin concentration within normal limits; immunofixation is especially helpful in detecting these low concentration M-proteins.6–8 Addition of routine and free light chain immunofixation to routine serum protein electrophoresis increases the sensitivity for detection of M-proteins from about 66% to >90%. This is especially true for serum-free light chains, which typically have a relatively normal SPE profile.
Documentation of a monoclonal gammopathy or Bence-Jones proteinuria is used to help make the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Monoclonal gammopathy can also be present in other myeloma-related disorders such as cutaneous or non-cutaneous extramedullary plasma cell tumors and some types of lymphoma. Increased concentrations of serum-free light chains are nephrotoxic and increase the risk of renal insufficiency.
Change in M-protein concentration is used to monitor response to treatment in human medicine. The human guidelines for response are:
These criteria have been evaluated in the dog with the better response being associated with longer survival. Typically, monitoring M-protein concentration will involve SPE or UPE with immunofixation on the initial sample to positively identify and quantify the M-protein. As long as the M-protein can be detected by protein electrophoresis alone, subsequent M-protein quantification does not require immunofixation. When the M-protein cannot be detected by protein electrophoresis, immunofixation will be recommended to confirm the complete response and resolution of the monoclonal gammopathy.
Restricted polyclonal gammopathy/Oligoclonal gammopathy: If the immune reaction includes a strong response against a limited number of antigens, electrophoresis will have one or multiple restricted/monoclonal-appearing bands within a polyclonal background. We have documented these restricted polyclonal gammopathies in cases with Ehrlichiosis, Leishmaniasis, Babesiosis, and other infectious and inflammatory diseases, including IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).10 IgG4-RD is a well-described human auto-inflammatory disease that has been documented in dogs. The disease has multiple manifestations with a common thread of increased serum IgG4 concentration, plasmacytosis, fibroplasia, and eosinophilic inflammation. The restricted electrophoretic pattern of IgG4-RD and plasmacytosis can lead to a misdiagnosis of a monoclonal gammopathy and multiple myeloma; immunofixation can identify the restricted pattern as IgG4 and aid in the diagnosis of IgG4-RD. Distinguishing between a monoclonal gammopathy and a restricted polyclonal gammopathy can sometimes be very challenging and require the combination of SPE, IF, the clinical history, and additional diagnostics.
Polyclonal gammopathy: When inflammation, infection, or immune stimulation persist for an extended time course, multiple types of immunoglobulins are produced. This is seen as a broad increase in the beta 2 and gamma globulin region. Most polyclonal gammopathies are associated with infectious and inflammatory causes.
Acute-phase protein response: Inflammation stimulates the production of positive acute-phase proteins, such as haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein. These proteins are typically found in the alpha and beta globulin fractions. Inflammation also is associated with decreased amounts of negative acute-phase proteins, most notably albumin. While this pattern helps explain the pathologic process, it is not specific for the cause of inflammation.
Normal: Typical serum contains a predominance of albumin with lower amounts of various globulin subsets.
Tubular Proteinuria is diagnosed when the UPE pattern suggests loss of smaller globulins and retention of albumin and larger globulins by the glomerulus. Evaluation of the urine protein: creatine ratio can help distinguish pathologic or physiologic causes of tubular proteinuria.
Glomerular Proteinuria is diagnosed when the UPE pattern suggests loss of albumin, transferrin, and other larger globulins through the glomerulus with retention of smaller globulins by the tubules. Evaluation of the urine protein: creatine ratio can help distinguish pathologic or physiologic causes of glomerular proteinuria. Correlation with the UPS is recommended.
Mixed Proteinuria is diagnosed when the UPE pattern suggests both tubular and glomerular protein loss. Often these samples look identical to the serum. Evaluation of the urine protein: creatine ratio can help distinguish pathologic or physiologic causes of mixed proteinuria.
Bence-Jones Protienuria is used to indicate the presence of free immunoglobulin light chains in the urine. This is highly suggested when there is a restricted protein band in the UPE that is not found in the SPE and can be confirmed by fLC IF.
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