News and Updates

Please check in from time to time for updates!!!

Please scroll down to view all the information listed below.

As of 8/31/2010-

August 31, 2010 - Important Progress in Patent Lawsuit - Joint statement released.

June 29, 2010 - Neuropathy in the Greyhound.

June 17, 2010 - Cone Rod Dystrophy in American Pit Bull Terrier (crd2) & Glen of Imaal Terrier (crd3).

May 14, 2010 - Cone Degeneration in Alaskan Malamutes.

March 8, 2010 - New IC13 for Improper Coat in Portuguese Water dog available

February 12, 2010 - Important Progress in Patent Lawsuit - Joint statement released.

October 2009 - Beginning in October 2009, all samples from India should be directed to GTG...

May 1, 2009 - Important message concerning second lawsuit filed to protect patents.

December 31, 2008 - June 30, 2009 - Offer has ended...
OptiGen's Anniversary Special - Celebrating 10 years of service!

November 19, 2008 -
Cerebellar Ataxia test now available for American Staffordshire Terriers -  OptiGen is pleased to partner with Antagene in France to assist North American owners of American Staffordshire Terriers who wish to test their dog’s DNA for Cerebellar Ataxia. To make this test more convenient for North American clients, OptiGen is serving as an agent for Antagene, by rendering blood or cheek swab samples into DNA and shipping the DNA to Antagene.  Antagene owns the international license for testing Cerebellar Ataxia (patent pending) in the American Staffordshire Terrier and will perform the DNA testing in their laboratory in France. OptiGen will obtain the results of the test from Antagene as soon as the tests are completed and send reports to the owners.

October 24, 2008 -
Test for rcd2-PRA now available for Collies - It has been a long time coming but rough and smooth collie breeders can now celebrate the news that a definitive DNA test for PRA is available for their breeds. Thanks to years of dedicated work by researchers in the laboratories of Dr. Greg Acland and Dr. Gus Aguirre, and aided by early support from Morris Animal Foundation and the Collie Health Foundation, the mutation responsible for the collie PRA called rod cone dysplasia type 2 (rcd2) has been identified. OptiGen has been granted exclusive rights worldwide to offer this test by Cornell University and the test is now available at OptiGen.

September 23, 2008 -
Normal to Affected Offspring Tested at Reduced Prices

July 25, 2008 -
Test for Inherited RD/OSD in Labradors & Samoyeds Now Available

March 20, 2008
Available Discounts

March 3, 2008
Testanforderungsformulare sind jetzt auch in deutscher Übersetzung
erhältlich

February 27, 2008
OptiGen Health Registry Update 2/27/08 Finnish Tollers

February 14, 2008
DKK Health Registry Announcement

January 17, 2008
News Update on prcd-PRA Testing in Europe

January 8, 2008
Traduction en français des formulaires de demande de tests

December 7, 2007
Normal to Normal Offspring Tested at Reduced Prices

April 6, 2007
Cheek Swabs Now Accepted by OptiGen

January 8, 2007
Genetic test for CMR - Canine Multi-focal Retinopathy for Mastiffs: (Old English, Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux--French Mastiff), Great Pyrenees and Coton de Tulear now available

December 12, 2006
FN - Familial Nephropathy test for English Cocker Spaniels

November 27, 2006
Genetic test for prcd-PRA now available for Spanish Water Dog & Australian Shepherd

August 24, 2006
OFA Registrations Resume

August 1, 2006
Genetic test for prcd-PRA announced for Kuvasz

June 19, 2006
Reports Get New Look - July 1, 2006
We're giving the OptiGen test REPORT a NEW LOOK....

July 25, 2005
CL (NCL - Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis) Test for Border Collies
The genetic test for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis in Border Collies is offered by OptiGen as of July 25, 2005.  The CL test can be done on Border Collie samples submitted to OptiGen previously for CEA/CH testing. Please read about the details at this link.

June 1, 2005
New Mutation Test for prcd PRA Is Now Available
OptiGen, LLC, proudly announces identification of the gene causing canine prcd-PRA (progressive rod-cone degeneration form of Progressive Retinal Atrophy). The cause of this inherited blinding disease, occurring in at least a dozen purebreeds, is one specific mutation in the coding sequence of the gene. OptiGen now offers a direct gene mutation test (mutation test) to detect the prcd-PRA status of any dog among affected breeds. Please click on the title above and read this information carefully and refer to the added notes specific to each breed.

2005
OptiGen Tests PRA Affected Dogs at No Cost
It is EXTREMELY important to test as many PRA-affected dogs in each breed as possible. To promote this, OptiGen will test, at no charge, affected dogs from each of the 16 breeds with a known genetic form of PRA.