News

• > 10.06.2025 - Upgrade of FASTest® ENCEPH
  Qualitative detection of IgG antibodies in the serum of the rabbit

  

  The new FASTest® ENCEPH, a rapid test for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi in the serum of the rabbit, is now based on a recombinant E. cuniculi antigen.

  -  only 10 µl serum per test
  -  incubation time 10 minutes
  -  storage at room temperature (15–25 °C)
  -  test boxes with 2, 6 or 25 tests
  -  shelf life 24 months after production

   

  The serological detection of IgG antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi gives the veterinarian an initial indication on-site that the rabbit must have had contact with E. cuniculi (indirect detection). A positive antibody detection is therefore evidence of an existing, lifelong persistent infection. However, this does not prove the presence of an acute E. cuniculi infection as the cause of the current symptoms. However, in combination with suspected clinical symptoms of encephalitozoonosis, the vet is able to initiate further diagnostic steps (IgM/IgG IFAT or ELISA) as well as immediate therapeutic and preventive measures (zoonosis!)

  Link to the test

  	Instructions for use	Downloads

  
  
• > 18.04.2025 - New FASTest® FOBT canine
  Detection of occult blood in the feces of the dog

  Blood loss of any kind (e. g. gastrointestinal bleeding due to bacterial, viral or parasitic intestinal diseases, injuries, poisoning, ulcers, tumours, etc.) can occur without any visible changes in the feces. They can be quite significant. This is why we speak of occult blood – blood that is not visible to the eye.

  Currently, the most common detection method for FOB (faecal occult blood) in veterinary medicine is the modified Guaiac method. However, this test is said to have unspecific (false positive) reactions, especially to meat-based foods (including animal carcasses and blood meals), but also to drugs and peroxidases from plant-based foods. For this reason, a meat-free diet of at least 3 to 7 days is usually necessary before the guaiac FOBT test, which is hardly ever complied with or adhered to by pet owners in practice.

  As the FASTest® FOBT canine is based on the immunochromatographic detection of canine haemoglobin, it does not require this pre-test diet. The use of highly specific monoclonal antibodies against canine haemoglobin means that there is no cross-reaction with haemoglobin from other (food) animal species.

  With the help of the FASTest® FOBT canine, the vet is able to detect occult bleeding in feces quickly, easily and reliably on-site and without the need for a meat-free diet.

  More information

  	Flyer_FOBT-canine_EN_web	Downloads

  
  
• > 19.02.2024 - Optimised MegaELISA® Antigen
  Increased sensitivity and single test format

  

  Our MegaELISA® FeLV Antigen has been optimised to achieve a sensitivity of 97.4 % while maintaining a specificity of 100 % (92 samples tested, compared to the FeLV ELISA of the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich).

  In addition, the plate format was changed to breakable wells, enabling individual tests as well as reducing the required sample volume to 15 µl per well. This has also slightly changed the test procedure.

  - rapid detection of FeLV antigens
  - sample material: serum, plasma
  - highly specific: use of monoclonal antibodies against FeLV
  - standardised, user-friendly test procedure
  - manual or automated processing
  - processing approx. 35 min

  
  
• > 06.11.2023 - Stepchild Colostrum management
  FASTest® IgG bovine is suitable for the on-site detection of a failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI)

  

  As reference method, Brix values in serum (cut-off 8.4 %) between the 3rd and 6th day of life were used. The FASTest® IgG bovine shows a high sensitivity of 90 % and 84 % and a specificity of 70 % and 72 % for whole blood supernatant and plasma (cut-off 8.3 %). However, whole blood (without anticoagulants) is not adequate for determining the FTPI at 12 to 16 h post partum. Almost 40 % of the calves in this study suffered from FTPI.

  CONCLUSION: The FASTest® IgG bovine is a suitable method to determine FTPI in whole blood supernatant and plasma of calves between 3rd and 6th day of life.

  	Evaluation of an immunochromatographic point-of-care test for the detection of failure of transfer of passive immunity in calves, Hartsleben et al. 2023	Downloads

  
  
• > 15.09.2023 - FASTest® BEE 3T – healthier colonies
  Start a healthy bee season

  with FASTest® BEE 3T – do you know how many viruses are in your colonies?
  

   

  

  New at MEGACOR: FASTest® BEE 3T

  □ rapid on-site virus detection in bees
        ● DWV = Deformed wing virus
        ● ABPV = Acute bee paralysis virus
        ● SBV = Sacbrood virus
  □ sample material: bees/bee brood
  □ simple test procedure and test evaluation after 15 minutes
  □ storage at room temperature (15–25 °C)
  □ shelf life 18 months after manufacture
  □ need-based test-kit formats: 2, 10, 25 or 50 tests
  
  □ whole-year virus monitoring (especially in late summer, winter losses)
  □ testing on the colony for decision support of beekeeping measures
  □ indirect conclusion about the potential virus vector Varroa destructor (vector for DWV, ABPV, SBV)

  More information

  	Flyer FASTest® BEE 3T	Downloads
  	Article Bienenjournal (German) 05/2024	Downloads

  
  
• > 08.03.2023 - Investigating the seroprevalence of CDV in free-roaming dogs in Nepal
  FASTest® CDV Ab as screening test

  Canine Distemper is caused by the canine Distemper virus (CDV), a Morbillivirus of the subfamily Paramyxovirinae. It infests dogs and other carnivores like fox, wolf, coyote, jackal, ferret, mink, raccoon and seal world-wide. Also, endangered carnivores such as the Bengal tiger are susceptible to CDV.
  
  A recent study investigated the seroprevalence of CDV in free-roaming dogs in the Chitwan National Park buffer zone with FASTest® CDV Ab. In 80 % of the dogs, antibodies against CDV were detected, of which 35 % had a medium and 45 % had a high titre.

  	Seroprevalence of CDV in the free-roaming dog population surrounding Chitwan National Park, Nepal_McDermott_2023	Downloads

  
  
• > 07.03.2023 - New: MegaELISA® FeLV Antigen

  rapid proof of FeLV antigens sample material: serum, plasma highly specific: use of monoclonal antibodies against FeLV cat specific conjugate standardized, user-friendly test procedure manual or automated processing The MegaELISA® FeLV Antigen was evaluated in cooperation with the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University Zurich (Institute for Clinical Studies, Prof. Dr. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann). In a first evaluation study, 80 cat samples were tested. Result: Sensitivity 92.86 %, Specificity 100 % compared to In-House ELISA.   More information here.