Wanna know what this is going to cost you, first? Find out HERE.
As of publishing, the combined RD/OSD and xl-PRA test price was $248 for the pair before discounts.
Submission Form:
Note: If you know of a clinic going on that you want to be a part of, but you are not ready to submit your samples, you have one month from the date of your online entry to submit your sample and get the discount from the clinic. However, you must submit the entry during the days the clinic is valid.- Go to the Optigen website and submit an online entry. Click HERE to do it.
- Things to have ready:
- Your dog's registration number
- Your dog's registered name
- Your dog's permanent ID number (microchip/tattoo)
- Your dog's CERF/other eye number and exam date
- The registration number and registered name of the Dam
- The registration number and registered name of the Sire
- Info on any known eye diseases
- If you can, don't want to, or are otherwise against doing the online form, print THIS instead.
- Make sure you print your form from the online submission when prompted.
- click "Request DNA Test" to continue to the check out screen
- Request DNA test…a list of dogs just entered will appear, check the corresponding box(es) for RD/OSD and xl-PRA tests. (2018 update: add the DM test, for only a little bit more money now, this is absolutely worth it)
- If you submit your request online you will receive an automatic 5% discount…no code necessary. However, if you are participating in a 20/20, then you have to enter the code for that clinic. If you are submitting "Normal" info for both parents you will get the Normal/Normal discount applied AFTER that info is verified by Optigen. (info on submitting that below)
- Find out what clinics are going on now HERE.
- Click confirm request
- Order Confirmation screen…gives the amount due for the requested test(s). Here you will indicate how you will be paying…by check or credit card. Credit card is way easier if you are planning on Clear/Clear discounts because they will apply that discount after you submit and before your card is charged. If you want to pay by card, but it won't work, select check and call them with your card number after. They are very nice and will be glad to help.
- You will get a confirmation from Optigen
Blood Sample Collection:
Blood can be collected by your veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician and must be processed according to the instructions below.
Make an appointment to have a blood sample drawn early in the week to avoid shipping over the weekend. Inform the clinic in advance that the blood must be drawn into a small lavender (purple) topped vacutainer tube and that the blood MUST be unclotted.
Both the owner and the responsible veterinary staff must sign the form affirming a match of the dog described in the paperwork and the blood sample.
Supplies needed at clinic:
18-22 gauge hypodermic needles
3 ml or larger syringe. Syringe must be new, in original package, and never re-sterilized.
Lavender (purple) topped tube (EDTA anti-coagulant), any size is acceptable; however, 2 ml or larger is preferred. (They need at least 1 ml of blood for testing.) If necessary, ACD yellow topped tubes are acceptable substitutes.
Sealable (ziplock) plastic bag to hold tube and one piece of paper toweling or a napkin in case of breakage. (Don't wrap the tube, just place toweling in the bag.)
Two sticky labels marked with owner's name, dog's name and date - one affixed to the tube and the other to the plastic bag
If blood is being collected from more than one dog, a new needle and syringe must be used for each dog. Each dog’s blood sample must be put in its own labeled tube and labeled plastic bag. Be certain that each label corresponds to the correct sample.
Collection process:
COLLECT 1-3 ml of blood from the test dog.
IMMEDIATELY transfer the blood to the anti-coagulent tube (do NOT overfill tubes).
INVERT the tube several times to prevent clotting. Clotted blood cannot be used. Do NOT send clotted blood. If necessary, a new blood sample should be collected. Do NOT put tape over the cap of the tube.
Packaging and Shipping Instructions:
Be prepared to ship the sample the same day as it is collected, if at all possible. If you must hold the sample for a while, make sure that it is refrigerated.
Normally, it is NOT necessary to ship by an overnight service within the US. US Postal Service 1st Class or Priority Mail is adequate. Other two to three day delivery services are also suitable. However, schedule the shipment so that it will NOT arrive during a weekend or holiday period. The package carriers do not take responsibility for refrigerating blood samples when delivery to the laboratory is delayed or suspended during holiday periods.
Packaging materials must be leak proof and meet the general requirements of the US Postal Service and other carriers. Appropriate packaging requires:
Blood tube inside a sealed plastic bag (or other sealed container).
Absorbent material inside the plastic bag. One paper towel is sufficient to soak up any potential leakage. Please do NOT wrap towel around the blood vial.
Cushioning wrap - bubble wrap sheets are best - wrap around the plastic bag loosely. Please DO NOT tape or staple to the plastic bag. DO NOT use household insulation.
Warm weather - if the temperature at your location at the time of shipping is 80 degrees F (26.67 C) or above, follow these additional instructions:
Obtain 2 freezable ice packs, available in hardware, drug and grocery stores.
Freeze them overnight. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE ICE CUBES, FROZEN FOOD PRODUCTS OR DRY ICE.
Obtain a styrofoam box that fits into an outer box and is large enough to hold the frozen ice packs and the sample and toweling in a plastic bag and add cushioning material as needed.
DO NOT freeze the sample before shipping. It will not freeze when packed as described here.
Put the request form and check in a separate sealed bad to keep them dry.
Ship the package by overnight delivery service.
Put in a sturdy container, either box or tube, with enough cushioning inside to prevent movement of the contents. If you use the US Postal Service, you can obtain a free box marked "Priority Mail" at your post office that is ideal for this purpose.
If you use a carrier other than the US Postal Service, please contact them for any special requirements they might have.
Enclose the request form and payment in the container. You will be notified via email when your sample arrives; if you do not use email, enclose a self-addressed postcard for receipt notification.
More Discounts: Normal x Normal Discount
If the parents of your dog were both Normal for the tests you are doing AND you have a copy of their results certificates, you can get a discount! Fill out THIS form, and include all the necessary paperwork and an additional discount will be taken off your total bill.
You're going to have to decide if this discount is worth it to you because it DOES take extra work, (but you could see a pretty great discount depending on the testing) you will need (1) completed copy of the form (2) Optigen test reports for dam & sire documenting their Normal status (3) a copy of official document (e.g., registration) showing dam and sire as parents of this offspring
SHIP TO OPTIGEN:
OptiGen, LLC
Cornell Business & Technology Park
767 Warren Road, Suite 300
Ithaca, NY 14850
If you want this information to be listed on OFA:
When you receive your test results, these have to be submitted to OFA if you want them to be listed on the OFA database, and in turn apply toward a CHIC number.
Go HERE to print the submission form you need to have your tests listed.
Complete the form now so you don't have to pull all this stuff out AGAIN when the test results arrive. It's almost exactly all the same info you just put on your Optigen forms.
When the results arrive, send the form in with a copy of the dog's registration, a copy of the test results, and the check to OFA for $15 per test / dog.
Mail to:
