The SUCCEED Equine Fecal Blood Test has been a work in progress. The current version of the FBT, released in November 2012, was modified to address feedback we received from veterinarians using the test kit in the field. We’re convinced, and many veterinarians are too, that the FBT has now reached the level of excellence and accuracy to which we at Freedom Health always strive.
Here are some of the concerns we heard from veterinarians and how they have been addressed.
How We’ve Improved On The Original SUCCEED® Equine Fecal Blood Test™
The Problem: Limited Range of Sensitivity
By its nature, an antibody test functions within a range of sensitivity to the antigen it is designed to detect. The FBT sensitivity was set such that the lower end of the range would be above normal baseline bleeding in healthy horses, to avoid false positives. The test also has an upper limit above which blood component levels would also not be detected. The sensitivity of the test kits produced prior to 2012 may have been too narrow, resulting in a higher than acceptable level of “false negative” test results.
The Solution: By extending the upper limit of the test kit sensitivity from the prior level, we were able to increase the range of pathological conditions the test is able to detect in horses. As a result of this change, the current version of the SUCCEED FBT reflects greater reliability in use for horses with true pathological conditions.
Read more about the reliability of the SUCCEED FBT.
The Problem: Overheated Test Kit
Purified antibodies, like those found in the SUCCEED FBT, are sensitive to heat over time. Even on cool days, storing the FBT inside a car, UPS truck, or warehouse could damage the test.
The Solution: New FBT labels and instructions indicate that the FBT should be kept refrigerated at all times. The kit is now being shipped in insulated cartons with cold packs. The compact size of the FBT test kit should enable most veterinarians to carry at least five kits in a standard truck fridge at any time, avoiding the damage caused by excessive heat.
Read more about the proper storage and handling of the SUCCEED FBT.
The Problem: Moisture Contamination
In the past, we packaged the test cassette and its accessories in the clear plastic container designed to collect fecal matter. However, veterinarians in muggy or humid locations reported condensation collecting inside the bottle. Excess moisture upsets the mechanics of the test kit, potentially leading to inaccurate results or a malfunctioning test.
The Solution: Now, each cassette is packaged, together with the pipette and a desiccant pouch, in a sealed foil pack, ensuring a sterile environment for the cassette and protecting it from exposure to moisture prior to use.
The Problem: Silting The Well
As in previous versions, the FBT includes a disposable pipette used to extract the fecal solution for the test. We discovered that users of the FBT were often collecting solid particulate material (or silt) into the pipette while drawing the fecal/water solution from the jar. Drawing silt into the pipette is easy to do if the pipette bulb is depressed and released rapidly while collecting and applying the fecal/water solution.
When this silt is deposited onto the test well, it clogs the well, preventing the solution from wicking properly up the test membrane. When this occurred, veterinarians were often inclined to add an additional one or two drops of solution to the well to promote wicking. But, additional drops may flood the test, produce an inappropriate dilution of the fecal sample or, if the well is clogged, simply provide no value.
The Solution: We addressed this issue by including more explicit instructions about the importance of collecting liquid only, minimizing particles:
Use provided disposable pipette to collect solution from container. Collect liquid only, minimizing particles. For best results: (i) tip jar slightly, (ii) depress pipette bulb before placing in solution, (iii) insert tip of pipette below surface of solution and release bulb slowly to draw up solution.
Apply two drops of solution from pipette to each of the two sample wells by depressing pipette bulb slowly to produce large drops. The liquid should wick up the membrane in the test window to above the control line in 2-3 minutes. If it doesn’t wick properly, check that well is not clogged with silt, and apply one more drop to non-wicking well. Excess fluid can flood the test, negating the result.
Always read the directions thoroughly to ensure the test is properly administered and results are interpreted correctly.
For More Information
Read more about the extensive research and testing process conducted by our team of on-site veterinarians and scientists
We’re always happy to answer specific questions about the FBT, whether you’re a veterinarian or a horse owner, so feel free to contact Freedom Health here.
