Use Stablelab^® to measure Serum Amyloid A, a reliable biomarker for infection in horses 

Equine influenza virus (EIV) outbreaks can be frightening for how quickly it can spread in horses. Imagine being at a horse show or at a barn where a few horses come down with fevers of 102°-105° F and nasal discharge. You suspect EIV. But how can you know for sure? And how can you quickly identify inflammation due to infection?

This was the position Holly Helbig, DVM and owner of the Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic, found herself in while caring for horses at a show. She suspected EIV due to the signs presented, and knew she needed to act quickly to protect the other horses.

“Once a case of EIV is confirmed, horse owners worry that their horses could have been exposed or possibly infected,” Helbig said. “Horse owners are looking for a quick response for peace of mind. That is where SAA testing with Stablelab comes in.”

Detecting Inflammation Due To Infection With SAA

Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is a major, acute phase protein produced by the liver that is a reliable biomarker for inflammation due to infection. SAA levels rapidly and dramatically increase in response to an infection.¹ Using Stablelab®, a hand-held stall-side diagnostic blood test, Helbig and her team conducted SAA tests on a large population of horses at the show. In 10 minutes, Stablelab detected inflammation due to possible infection in some of the horses before they showed clinical signs such as a fever