By Graham Bilbrough, DVM • Antech, part of Mars Science & Diagnostics It’s a word all pet owners fear – cancer. A leading cause of death in older dogs, with nearly 50% over 10 years of age developing the disease1, more than six million dogs are diagnosed² with cancer in the United States every year. Often, by the time it’s diagnosed, the disease has progressed to the point where treatment is challenging, costly, and may not even be successful in prolonging a pet’s life. As the only in-house canine cancer screening blood test available to veterinary teams, Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test on the Element i+™ Immunodiagnostic Analyzer from Antech™ helps veterinarians assess the risk of lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma in dogs with just one drop of sample (50μL). From EDTA plasma to results in just six minutes. To help elucidate the benefits of this test, I have compiled some common questions I hear from my fellow veterinarians about Nu.Q®: Why is early detection of disease so important? We know that early detection of any disease gives us better opportunities for intervention but especially when it comes to cancer. What does this mean in practice? Ease the challenge of early cancer detection: surgeries to address potentially cancerous growths could be shorter and simpler, potentially fewer rounds of chemotherapy, and remission or cure has the potential to be more achievable. How does this type of test help identify occult disease? Even with observant and dedicated pet owners, signs of cancer can be indistinct and may not be pathognomonic for neoplasia, leading to delays in specific cancer treatment as other therapies are used. Nu.Q® detects elevated nucleosomes which can be a sign of cancer as well as other diseases causing increased cell turnover and/or inflammation. How does Nu.Q® on the Element i+ detect disease? Nu.Q® on the Element i+ measures canine plasma nucleosome concentrations, detecting increased cell death as a trigger to run further diagnostic testing and identify potential underlying disease. How do I run Nu.Q® on the Element i+? Requiring only 50μL of EDTA plasma from your routine blood draw, the Element i+ provides results in just six minutes. By sidestepping sample stability concerns and special packaging for the reference lab, you can reassure your client or initiate further diagnostics without disrupting your workflow. If I have a patient presenting for wellness screening, what can Nu.Q® tell me that other diagnostics may not? Nu.Q® is an important tool to have in your diagnostic testing repertoire. Nucleosome levels may be elevated when all other parameters are normal, indicating underlying disease may be present and additional investigation is warranted. An elevated Nu.Q® test provides guidance as to whether further investigations are warranted, such as radiographs, ultrasounds, fine needle aspirates, biopsies, etc. As part of a family-owned business with nearly 90 years of experience caring for pets, our teams are committed to delivering diagnostics solutions that ultimately help make A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Nu.Q® is one of the ways we do this, providing veterinary professionals with a test that supports the delivery of high-quality, individualized pet care at an accessible price. Our ultimate goal with Nu.Q® is enabling even more informed treatment plans tailored to each pet's unique needs, resulting in even better health outcomes. Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test delivers one of three possible results: Low Suspicion (Green) Results interpretation: This patient has low risk for active neoplasia in the classes of tumors screened for by the Nu.Q® test. Continue routine annual or bi-annual screening. Action: Repeat Nu.Q®️ at next wellness visit, consider additional diagnostics if active disease is suspected Moderate Suspicion (Yellow) Results interpretation: This patient’s results are in the “gray zone” of moderate suspicion and further testing should be considered. Patient may have low-levels of circulating nucleosomes due to certain early-stage neoplasia. Action: Repeat testing with a fasted sample after 2 – 4 weeks or when convenient to evaluate trends in results if patient is otherwise healthy High Suspicion (Orange) Results interpretation: This patient has increased cell turnover (inflammation, cancer, etc.). Action: Assess patient for evidence of cancer or acute inflammation. Recommend additional diagnostics as indicated. Increased plasma nucleosomes indicate the need for further investigations, like diagnostic imaging, to determine the cause. When is it most appropriate use of Nu.Q®? Nu.Q® on the Element i+ should be used as a targeted wellness screening test. It is recommended for apparently healthy, middle-aged and older dogs (aged 7 or older), or younger dogs (aged 4 or older) in breeds predisposed to developing cancer. What comes after Nu.Q? Learn how Antech’s experts in medical consulting, pathology, and diagnostic imaging can guide you through the next steps in your patient care journey. Contact your ANTECH representative to explore additional tools and services designed to support comprehensive veterinary care. All rights reserved. Nu.Q® is a registered trademark of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. Nu.Q® on the Element i+ is supplied to Antech™ under license by Belgian Volition SRL. All other trademarks used herein are the trademarks of Antech Diagnostics, Inc. or its affiliates.
