Mike, my vet charges $15 for the blood draw. Then it costs $5.25 to ship in the smallest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. This is a good time to do the blood testing since no special precautions about the blood getting too warm during shipping.
We have also learned that Optigen has been storing DNA on all submissions ... until they run out of storage space. So, if next year there is a new DNA test for Labs they can do the new test; or send the DNA to whichever laboratory is doing the test. Saves you another trip to the vet.
Would also encourage Lab people to send DNA samples on all their dogs to OFA's CHIC DNA repository. Among Goldens, The Golden Retriever Foundation holds "clinics" at our National Specialties (and local clubs as well). The OFA has a $20 fee for this service, and GRF pays that fee for Goldens. As a result of these efforts, Goldens have the largest # of DNA samples preserved with OFA. It could eventually mean a "head start" on DNA research for future genetic problems. The program has been well-supported by Golden people across the Board.
Many advantages to this: OFA releases this DNA to researchers who may be developing new DNA tests. Also, this DNA can also be "withdrawn" by an owner (or his legal assigns later) if new DNA tests become available. As far as I know there is no time limit on how long OFA will store this DNA. Such DNA storage could ultimately be of use in finding the DNA tests for those forms of PRA (as an example) for which there is no test yet.
Perhaps there is some Labrador "entity" that could do the same for Labs? Something like our Golden clinics could be held at things like the National Am, National Open, Master National?
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Originally Posted by Jim Pickering
