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 detected in a free-catch urine sample, sometimes before a detectable mass is present. Up to 85% of TCCs contain the BRAF mutation and it is absent in healthy control dogs, so its presence in urine is strongly suggestive of TCC (Mochizuki et al., 2015; Mochizuki and Breen, 2015).
When to use this test?
The Fat’hieh BRAF mutation PCR is particularly useful when there is strong clinical suspicion of TCC based on signalment, history, clinical signs, imaging, or cytology, and confirmation is desired without resorting to more invasive or costly procedures such as biopsy and histopathology.
It can also serve as a screening test to detect preclinical disease in high-risk dogs (those over 6 years old and breeds with up to a 20-fold increased incidence).
A free-catch urine sample is sufficient, carries minimal risk, and is easy for clients to collect.
Read more about the clinical application of this test in a recent VetScript article by our pathologist Dr Wilson Karalus.
This is a break-through for New Zealand companion animals!
We think it’s a pretty big deal being able to offer this test locally! Previously BRAF mutation testing was limited to referral overseas. This made the test expensive and added extended transport time. Developing this test to run in our local laboratories will make this non-invasive test option much more accessible to the New Zealand market.
Test details
> Test name: Fat’hieh BRAF mutation test (canine)
> Turn-around time: 7 working days
> Price: Contact your laboratory for details
> Sample type: Free catch urine (see collection details below)
Urine collection requirements
The Fat’hieh BRAF test does require specific sample collection requirements.
The free specialised urine sample collection containers can be found with other consumables on our website. The collection container is stable for one month, so should be ordered in advance of the patient’s appointment and sample collection.
– Take a free-catch sample of at least 30mL and place into the specific collection container.
– Store at room temperature and send to your local laboratory for testing.
What’s in a name?
Thanks to our fabulous molecular team in Dunedin led by Saeed Sharif for the development and validation of this test. This test is dedicated to Fat’hieh, whose name means ‘pioneer’.
If you have any questions regarding this test, please contact the pathologists at your local laboratory – 0800 474 225.