Sample Page

Waitangi day

All of our laboratories will be closed on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 February, for the Waitangi day public holiday / weekend. > Please avoid sending samples via overnight courier on Thursday 5 February as they won’t be delivered until Monday and will likely be unsuitable for testing on receipt. Normal business hours resume on […]

Antech point-of-care diagnostics – exclusive distributor

Awanui Veterinary is proud to announce a new partnership with Antech, becoming the exclusive distributor of Antech’s point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing solutions in New Zealand.  This collaboration brings together two organisations united by a shared commitment to diagnostic excellence and animal-first healthcare. By combining  Antech’s globally established diagnostic technology with Awanui Veterinary’s nationwide reach, deep local knowledge, and New Zealand-based pathology support, giving […]

Lower EPG testing now available!

Parasite testing in cattle has been limited by one key constraint: lower eggs per gram (EPG) requirements. As a result, cattle parasite burdens have often been under-detected, under-monitored and/or managed using blanket drenching, rather than evidence-based decisions.  That approach is becoming increasingly risky.  Why lower EPG testing now matters in NZ cattle Anthelmintic resistance is no longer just […]

Anniversary days – we’ll be closed

Our Palmerston North laboratory will be closed on Monday 19 January for the Wellington regional anniversary day public holiday. NOTE: Since a significant proportion of our pathologists work in Palmerston North, some Histology results may be delayed for the whole country. Our Auckland laboratory and Hamilton logistics centre will be closed on Monday 26 January […]

Sampling tips for large animal vets

ROB FAIRLEY Here are some tips from our pathologists that may be useful during sample collection or out in the field. 1. For PCR, dry swabs are preferred over transport media swabs. We have had success with transport media swabs but the material you collect on the swab is diluted by the media and there is […]

Lab tip – keep cool when it’s hot!

It’s warm weather season, so please remember to keep samples cool after collection. Traditionally as summer heats up, we notice a deterioration in the quality of some samples received at our laboratories.  Some even arrive in an unsuitable condition for testing. We recommend you include an ice-pack of some description with your samples if you […]

Festive season opening hours

Please find our opening hours over the Christmas and New Year period below. All laboratories  will resume normal working hours from Monday 5 January. CHRISTMAS HOURS > 22-24 December: OPEN> 25-28 December: CLOSED NEW YEAR HOURS > 29-31 December: OPEN> 1-4 January: CLOSED Please be aware that online orders for consumable items placed before Christmas […]

BRAF mutation PCR now available in NZ!!

After several years work, Awanui Veterinary has now completed the design, development and validation of a duplex qPCR assay to detect the canine BRAF mutation responsible for canine urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). We are very excited to be the first New Zealand laboratory to offer a BRAF mutation test locally. This mutation can be […]

Herd of facial eczema?

Summer is upon us and it is never too early to ensure plans are in place to protect the herd. To be effective, preventative measures need to be in place before Pseudopithomyces chartarum and / or Pseudopithomyces toxicarius (formerly Pithomyces spp.) spores are detected. For every clinical case of facial eczema you see, there will be at […]

Opportunistic sepsis

Sandy McLachlan Clinical history Query enterotoxigenic E.coli, torsion, sepsis? Metronidazole had been administered by the owner in the morning. Late afternoon the dog presented to the attending veterinarian with fever 40.9°C, and was treated with cefazolin, enrofloxacin, IV fluids, meloxicam and maropitant. In house CBC showed haemoconcentration (HCT 69.5% (37.3 – 61.7)) and profound leukopenia […]