The lab had offered the test since its inception in 1986; however DNA verification replaced blood typing for equine parentage verification in 2001. | Photo: iStock

The University of Kentucky’s (UK) Genetic Testing at Gluck laboratory recently ended its equine blood-type testing. The laboratory continues to offer DNA testing.

Kathryn Graves, PhD, Genetic Testing at Gluck director, said the lab elected to cease blood-type testing for a number of reasons, including the age of the necessary equipment and the technical time required to perform testing. The lab had offered the test since its inception in 1986; however DNA verification replaced blood typing for equine parentage verification in 2001. Genetic Testing at Gluck continued to offer blood typing to facilitate registration of horses whose parents were deceased and did not have DNA profiles on record and was the last laboratory to offer full blood typing services.

In addition, the lab will no longer offer neonatal isoerythrolysys antibody testing, which is available from several other veterinary laboratories in the Lexington area