Follow the ABCs and 123s of blood screen tests
Follow the ABCs and 123s of blood screen tests
Like all clinics, Pasco Animal Hospital in New Port Richey, Fla., draws serial samples to perform blood screen tests. The two completed most frequently are the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test and the serum bile acids tolerance test. "Even though we run these tests with some regularity, we often confuse the specifics of when to check the second sample," admits Vicky Jones, veterinary assistant. "Here's a useful mnemonic device for remembering: The ACTH stimulation test starts with the letter 'A,' which is the first letter of the alphabet and, therefore, requires waiting one hour before the second test. For the bile acids test, bile starts with the letter 'B,' which is the second letter of the alphabet and, therefore, one must wait two hours to obtain the second sample. This simple memory device really helps!"
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