On-the-spot test breeds success in veterinary medicine

UK diagnostics development company AgPlus Diagnostics is to collaborate with New Zealand-based BioTest Diagnostics in the development of a rapid and convenient test for canine progesterone that will be used to pinpoint accurately the narrow window for artificial insemination in canine breeding programmes. Utilising the hand-held AgPlus analytical technology, this powerful quantitative test will allow breeders and veterinary practitioners to monitor breeding cycles closely on site in order to increase the likelihood of successful fertilisation.

Narrow window of opportunity
The timing and length of canine heat cycles can vary between species, between animals of the same species and even between cycles in the same animal, making it difficult to predict the ideal time for breeding. To complicate matters further, the egg requires about two days to mature following ovulation, remaining fertile for just two to three days. In addition, whereas fresh sperm survives for five to seven days, frozen sperm straws are viable for less than 24 hours, which makes the window of opportunity for successful fertilisation extremely narrow.

Rapid, accurate and quantitative
Close monitoring of progesterone levels can help to predict when the female is about to ovulate, when the egg is fertile, and the ideal time for insemination. Until now, the accurate quantitative measurements required for such monitoring have involved sending samples to the laboratory for analysis. This limits the number of tests that can be performed and incurs delays that can be problematic with such tight timescales. Now, with AgPlus technology, rapid, accurate and quantitative progesterone measurements can be obtained conveniently at the site of breeding, allowing tests to be performed as frequently as required, providing the best opportunity for successful fertilisation.