Thyroid Testing Clinic at the 2011 Nationals

 The Health & Research Committee invites you to participate in our Thyroid Testing Clinic at the 2011 Nationals.  You can get a complete thyroid panel run, results from an accredited lab, and registered with the OFA, for an incredibly low cost.  H&R Committee members and volunteers, including licensed veterinarians and experienced lab techs, will perform the blood draw, process the samples, and ship all samples to the lab at the Diagnostic Center for Population & Animal Health (Michigan State University).

 PLEASE NOTE:  This is a joint project between the APC and the lab at MSU, and we’ll need a minimum of 20 participants to maintain this incredible offer.    

 Membership Has Privileges!  APC members can participate for JUST $20 for the lab fee, plus the OFA registration fee kennel rate of $7.50.  You won’t find a better offer on testing anywhere.  You can complete your dog’s CHIC thyroid test for $27.50 TOTAL!   

 Non-members can also participate for $45 for the lab fee, plus the OFA registration fee kennel rate of $7.50.  An outstanding offer at $52.50 TOTAL for non-members.  Spread the word to your non-member friends and puppy owners who are attending Nationals!  (HINT:  it can be well worth the investment for non-members to join APC and get an even better value!)

 For the benefits received by participating in the Clinic, ALL participants must agree to contributing data to the OFA database by reporting all results.  Participants must initial the Authorization to Release Abnormal Results on the Application for Thyroid Database form that must accompany every sample.  Participants must also agree to Clinic Guidelines (below) to ensure a successful collection and outcome for every sample.

 Mark Your Calendar for Thursday, May 12, for the Thyroid Testing Clinic at the host hotel.  We’re planning to start after Maturity judging -- the time and room will be announced as we finalize those details.   

 Reserve Your Appointment Now!  We’re asking for advance reservations in order to prepare for materials, appropriate time and space.  We can take walk-ins if time permits, or we need to meet the minimum of 20 participants.  Walk-ins must also adhere to the Guidelines below, including the completed OFA Application.  To make your reservation(s) for the clinic, simply complete and mail the reservation form, or send an email to Pam Waitman at fairhavn@sbcglobal.net.  Be sure to indicate in your email how many dogs you plan to have tested.  RESERVATIONS should ARRIVE BEFORE APRIL 20, 2011. 

 PLEASE NOTE:  There will be NO SHAVING.  We have already been asked about this.  It’s a simple draw of a few milliliters of blood with a syringe, similar to the previous blood draws at Nationals.

Guidelines for the Thyroid Testing Clinic at 2011 Nationals:

1.  Thyroid testing at this Clinic will be performed on POINTERS ONLY.  Every reference in these Guidelines to "dogs" is defined as Pointers and may be applied to dogs or bitches.

2.  Reservations should be made in advance to ensure each dog an appointment, and walk-ins will only be accepted if time permits and if the Application is completed in advance and brought with the dog.

3.  Every dog submitted at the Clinic must be accompanied by the completed Application for Thyroid Database, which can be found on the OFA website.  Simply go to www.offa.org, click on “Thyroid” in the list on the left side of the screen, then click on “Thyroid Application” in the drop-down menu.  PLEASE come prepared – blank forms will not be supplied on-site.

4.  Every completed Application MUST INCLUDE the owner's initials for Authorization to Release Abnormal Results and the date of last routine vaccination.

5.  MEMBERS would be required to bring the completed Application, a check for $20 made payable to APC, plus a separate check made payable to OFA for $7.50. 

6.  NON-MEMBERS would be required to bring the completed Application, a check for $45 made payable to APC, plus a check made payable to OFA for $7.50.                  (continued)             

7.  Anyone who has multiple dogs tested at this Clinic may write one check made payable to OFA to cover the registration fees for those dogs, provided the notation is made on the check as to which dogs that check covers.  They may also write one separate check made payable to APC to cover the lab fees for those dogs, provided the notation is made on the check as to which dogs that check covers.  NOTE:  There must be two separate checks - no one may write one check to cover both the lab fee and OFA registration, as the checks go to different places. 

8.  Ownership of each dog will be determined by the owners listed in the 2011 Nationals catalogue;  membership would be based on the May 1 membership roster, plus any new members voted in at the Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 11.  A dog must be owned or co-owned by a member on May 12 to receive the member’s rate lab fee.  Dogs not listed in the catalogue must be accompanied by a copy of registration to establish ownership by members or non-members and determine lab fees.

9.  OFA guidelines stipulate that bitches should not be in estrus; therefore no bitches in season will be drawn at Nationals.  Pregnant bitches will also not be drawn at Nationals.  Participants should be aware that thyroid values in normal bitches can be affected during estrus or pregnancy, and should use care in testing a bitch that is close to coming into season, or just finished.      

10.  To ensure quality control in processing and handling of samples, only the samples drawn at the Clinic will be eligible for the member’s lab rate, and shipping to MSU, on that day.  Other provisions will be made for MEMBERS ONLY for thyroid testing on dogs not in attendance, and for members not in attendance.  Those provisions will be announced at a later date on the APC website.

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Has it been a while since your dog’s thyroid testing was completed?  You can get your retesting done at this clinic.  APC’s CHIC protocol recommends retesting at ages 2, 4, 6 and 8.  Take advantage of this opportunity – it may never be this easy and inexpensive again!

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MICROCHIPPING Will Also Be Available at 2011 NATIONALS

You can have your Pointer MicroChipped at the 2011 Nationals.  It’s a small effort that could easily save your dog’s life if you become separated.  Plus, permanent identification is required for entering test results into the OFA database, and we’re making it as easy as possible for you to do both!  You can have the MicroChipping done whether you’re planning to participate in the Thyroid Testing Clinic or not.  We’re finalizing details on days and times now, and will have that information available soon.