New comprehensive ringworm panel now available

Antech Diagnostics (part of Mars Veterinary Health) has announced the availability of its FastPanel Ringworm PCR test, which uses real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the most comprehensive group of ringworm-causing fungal organisms in dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, and small rodents.

Ringworm treatment can be lengthy and expensive, but this new DNA-based test offers rapid results (within 1 to 3 business days of sample receipt) in addition to high sensitivity and specificity, allowing veterinarians to accelerate the start of treatment and prevent new and secondary infections.

The FastPanel Ringworm PCR test detects Microsporum and Trichophyton fungal organisms at the genus level and the 3 the most important species that cause ringworm infections in domestic animals: Microsporum canis, the Microsporum gypseum complex (now Arthroderma gypseum, Arthroderma fulvum, Arthroderma incurvatum), and the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex (now Arthroderma benhamiae, Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii). Additionally, veterinarians can access the test analysis alone or combined with dermatophyte culture using the same patient sample.

"The #1 reason pet owners visit a veterinarian is for an itchy pet, and ringworm can be the cause," says Jennifer Ogeer, BSc, DVM, MSc, MBA, MA, vice president of medical affairs at Antech.

“For ringworm, key opinion leaders recommend PCR testing either in combination with dermatophyte culture or as a stand-alone diagnostic test to confirm infection and determine proper treatment. The combination of high diagnostic accuracy, fast turnaround time, and the option for confirmatory culture from the same sample make this particular DNA-based test uniquely valuable in delivering effective treatment quickly to affected animals, a critical factor toward safeguarding both animal and human health from this challenging-to-treat skin disease.”

Learn more about this new comprehensive test here.