ABSTRACT: This article describes the advantages of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing as a point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tool in the veterinary clinic. Different variations of the test are discussed. Examples of the use of PCR in the veterinary clinic are presented. Despite its high specificity and sensitivity, it is emphasised that the PCR test does not stand alone when making a final diagnosis and must be used in combination with the overall clinical picture. The pitfalls when interpreting PCR results are also discussed.

Author

Trevor Waner BVSC MSc PhD Dipl ECLAM

Trevor graduated from the Pretoria University (Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa) in 1971. He worked for the PDSA in District Six, Cape Town, before continuing his studies at the University of Cape Town, graduating with an MSc degree in Virology. He emigrated to Israel in 1977 and worked at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva in the Department of Comparative Medicine.

After joining the Israel Institute for Biological Research, he completed his PhD in Infectious Diseases in 1999 at the University of Utrecht. His thesis dealt with the diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. He is a specialist in Laboratory Animal Medicine (European Recognised Specialist) and runs a small animal veterinary clinic. Trevor has written and published widely and has lectured at a number of international conferences.

Keywords: Clinical, Pcr, Poc, Chain reaction

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 31 (07) • July 2016 pp222-224

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