Fasting required for TLI test?

Status
Not open for further replies.
TheBowHuntress

TheBowHuntress

Member Since 2012
I was doing a little research on EPI (thanks BJM!!!) and read, in more than one place, that a cat should have fasted for at least 12 hours before the blood draw at the vet's office for a TLI test. At a recent vet visit, Gobbles did not fast before any of his tests. And I paid a LOT of money for Gobbles' recent TLI test. He had a slew of other tests taken at the same time. I haven't got the results back yet (other than the fecal tests were all good). Can somebody confirm if the cat does or does not have to fast for this [TLI] test?
 
I will be infuriated if I find out for certain....that was a very expensive test (I spent a total of over $600 on blood & fecal testing last week)....I'll call whatever lab they use myself if necessary...
 
yes, it says fasted sample required for TLI (unless there is a new test out)

It is important to know what the testing lab requires for various specimens. Outside labs generally have specific instructions for the specimens submitted for various tests. If the vet screwed up, the vet should cover the re-test, I think.
 
BJM said:
yes, it says fasted sample required for TLI (unless there is a new test out)

It is important to know what the testing lab requires for various specimens. Outside labs generally have specific instructions for the specimens submitted for various tests. If the vet screwed up, the vet should cover the re-test, I think.
Click to expand...
What's odd is that the vet called me and said that the lab didn't have enough blood; that they had tried it twice. The day that blood was drawn, he also had blood drawn for a Senior Panel. From what I read, I believe a lab only needs a very small amount of blood. I was told that the lab would re-do the test for free if done within 30 days. Of course, I took Gobbles back to the vet (I was pretty pi*sed) that day. My clinic uses Antech for superchems, but I'm not positive that is where the TLI sample went. The first blood draw was on 4/3 and the second was on 4/5. I don't know WHY they didn't get enough blood--tech's fault, I guess. All sounds like hogwash to me though....
 
I found this. Can you decipher this BJM:

"Interpreting TLI test results and
sample handling

Food is usually withheld from the patient for 12 hours
prior to drawing blood for a serum TLI assay. Studies have
confirmed that serum TLI rises after feeding, but such
increases are minimal, and values are not elevated beyond
the upper limit of the reference range in dogs and cats. In
patients with less than a total loss of pancreatic tissue,
however, such transient increases may lead to subnormal
but equivocal test results. Therefore, repeat testing of
samples collected after fasting is recommended whenever
equivocal results are obtained..."
 
...Food is usually withheld from the patient for 12 hours prior to drawing blood for a serum TLI assay.
Click to expand...
Sounds like standard operating procedure would be to do the test under fasting conditions.

Studies have confirmed that serum TLI rises after feeding, but such increases are minimal, and values are not elevated beyond the upper limit of the reference range in dogs and cats.
Click to expand...
If not fasted, feeding may affect results slightly while keeping them inside the reference boundaries.

In patients with less than a total loss of pancreatic tissue, however, such transient increases may lead to subnormal but equivocal test results.
Click to expand...
Borderline results in some tests can occur.

Therefore, repeat testing of samples collected after fasting is recommended whenever equivocal results are obtained..."
Click to expand...
If you get borderline results, re-do the test under fasting conditions.
 
If your vet signs up with MSU lab, you can get the fPLI much cheaper. its a newer test than the tli. MSU is where Antech is sending it but you are paying lots more for them to do that.

My vet sent Conors fasting blood directly to MSU after signing up and it was basically 80 dollars, vet tech blood draw and overnight shipping frozen? I think. We had to go back actually a second time to get Conors blood taken because the vet didn't know it had to be fasting.

http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/

http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Bin/Catalog.exe?Action=Test&Id=2246
 
Thanks for all the information everyone. We'll wait and see what the results are. So if it is "borderline", then I should be able to compare the results to the range on the test. I will tell my vet it was supposed to be fasting, and hope he doesn't get offended. Maybe TLI is one of those tests that he doesn't do very often and didn't know that? He is a good vet so I am going to assume that is the case. I always get a copy of his tests and then enter same on his SS...
 
I called the lab when Gobbles' TLI was sent and asked if a cat should be fasted before the blood sample is taking. They would not tell me and said they only answer questions for vets...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top