Getting IGF/Antibody tests from MSU by myself?

Discussion in 'Acromegaly / IAA / Cushings Cats' started by cabreu, Oct 16, 2020.

  1. cabreu

    cabreu Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    My vet won't ship the blood samples to MSU but will give them to me. Has anyone tried doing this? I just filled out the form to set up an account with MSU, which required a clinic name, so I put my vet's clinic. Hopefully they'll let me do this...

    @Wendy&Neko maybe you would know about this? Thank you!
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2020
  2. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    Try contacting MSU yourself first and see what they say. People used to do this, then they stopped it because people weren't sending properly prepared blood. Why won't the vet ship them?
     
  3. cabreu

    cabreu Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    I tried calling but they are closed for the day. The vet said they "don't have an account" and "aren't able to ship samples." The vet was also hostile about my request for these tests, and seemed very offended that I asked. Well, I'll keep the samples in my freezer and contact MSU on Monday. Ugh.
     
  4. cabreu

    cabreu Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    By the way, since you're here, Wendy, and have been so nice in answering my questions (thank you!), what do you think of Willow's spreadsheet? It looks like it's going to take me longer to get the acro/IAA results than I had thought-- should I just keep increasing by 0.5 units every 3 days if she doesn't go lower than the 200s? I tried asking the vet about Levemir today but the hostility was all I got.

    Oh and p.s. the vet also noted the tartar build-up on Willow's teeth, which I was already aware of but don't want to put her under for a teeth-cleaning right now. Is this the right move?
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2020
  5. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    Does you vet use Idexx as their lab? Idexx is one of the major labs that vets use with the other being Antech. In the Idexx test schedule IAA test is 3237 and the IGF-1 test is 3241. Based on the turn-around times listed, Idexx may be sending the samples to MSU.
    Anteck lists a Insulin Growth Factor I test, S16370, but I can't find an Insulin Autoantibody test at Antech
     
  6. cabreu

    cabreu Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    Interesting, Antech must be what they use, and why they told me I was crazy for asking for the IAA test because "it's not even available for cats." They also quoted me as $295 for the IGF test. So I decided to try shipping both samples to MSU- hopefully this will work.
     
  7. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    I had to walk my vet through how to get the IGF-1 and IAA tests too. First time she' done it.
     

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