QC Manuals: FAs and Red Ink
QC Manuals: FAs and Red Ink
  • Ethan Adams, COO | 2009-05-01

Our quality control lab was troubled with a spate of FAs and IFAs that had extreme autofluorescence–or so we thought. Negative cells ranged in color from dull orange to olive-drab with sufficient brightness to make the apple-green...

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VMRD Lab Tips: Beware of Bio-Tek Bottom Wash
VMRD Lab Tips: Beware of Bio-Tek Bottom Wash
  • Ethan Adams, COO | 2009-05-01

We all know that hog wash is to be eschewed, but we have recently encountered another type of wash that should be avoided as it can cause needless headaches—and possibly invalid results—with some of our ELISA...

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Adventures with Clostridia
Adventures with Clostridia
  • Theresa Adams, Research Technician | 2009-05-01

We have received several claims that the VMRD Clostridium septicum direct FA conjugate does not bind certain cultures of Clostridium thought to be C. septicum. To investigate these claims, we obtained one of the...

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Can cELISAs be Used With Different Animal Species?
Can cELISAs be Used With Different Animal Species?
  • Travis McGuire, D.V.M., Ph.D, Director of Research | 2006-10-01

cELISAs sold by VMRD are licensed for use in defined species. For instance, the test for antibody to Anaplasma is approved for use with bovine serum samples. The cELISA will detect antibody to Anaplasma in serum from other animals including...

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Malignant Catarrhal Fever
Malignant Catarrhal Fever
  • VMRD | 2006-06-01

Malignant Catarrhal Fever Virus Infection of Domestic Cattle and Other Susceptible Ruminants   The often fatal lymphoproliferative and inflammatory disease syndrome malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is caused by closely related members of the family Gammaherpesvirinae. Two epidemiologic entities of the...

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Interpreting Antibody Responses to EIAV Proteins that Vary
Interpreting Antibody Responses to EIAV Proteins that Vary
  • Travis McGuire, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of Research | 2006-04-01

Antigenic variation is a result of changes in the protein sequence of agents which are caused by changes in the nucleic acid sequence that determine which amino acids are used to make the protein. Changes in nucleic acid sequence are...

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A Tail of Flagella
A Tail of Flagella
  • Ethan Adams, Director of Marketing | 2006-04-01

In 1995, when we first tested the Clostridium chauvoei antiserum that serves as the raw material for our C. chauvoei conjugate, vehement expostulations proceeded from our darkened microscopy room that are probably not printable in this newsletter...

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Technical Services Inquiries
Technical Services Inquiries
  • Scott Adams, D.V.M., Ph.D., President and CEO | 2006-04-01

Ehrlichia canis –  Question: Why is the IFA positive using VMRD E. canis substrate slides while with the same sample I get a negative reaction with an E. canis lateral flow device? Answer: IFA has broader reactivity than the...

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Introducing ELISAWare™
Introducing ELISAWare™
  • Ethan Adams, Editor in Chief, Marketing Manager, System Analyst | 2005-10-01

HOW ELISAWARE™ CAME TO BE   For many years VMRD customers have been requesting a software program that would support our ELISA assays.  The development of such software always seemed to be a monumental, if not impossible...

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Obtaining Quantitative Data Using VMRD's cELISAs
Obtaining Quantitative Data Using VMRD's cELISAs
  • Travis C. McGuire, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of Research | 2005-10-01

It is often useful to know the titer of antibody in a serum for comparison with sera taken earlier or later from the same animal or for other purposes. The cELISAs made by VMRD recommend using undiluted sera and...

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Equine Piroplasmosis: Detection of Carriers Prior to Importation into the United States
Equine Piroplasmosis: Detection of Carriers Prior to Importation into the United States
  • D. Scott Adams, D.V.M., Ph.D., President and CEO | 2005-04-01

Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne hemoparasitic disease of horses caused byBabesia equi, B. caballi or both. Piroplasmosis is known to be endemic in every country except the USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Japan and Australia. Thus, in these countries...

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Reasons to Avoid the CF Test for Detecting Antibodies in Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Horse Sera
Reasons to Avoid the CF Test for Detecting Antibodies in Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Horse Sera
  • Travis C. McGuire, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of Research | 2005-04-01

The complement fixation (CF) test is sometimes used for detection of antibody to infectious agents in domestic animals. There is a major problem with the use of this test to detect antibodies in serum for cattle, sheep, goats and horses...

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