• @LindaH:

    Bewler, the NEW fanconi test IS 100% accurate! So, yes, definitely have it done…we did with Blaze, and he's neutered, too.

    Okay just so I am clear - can you tell me exactly which test to order (the full name) and I assume I get it from OFA?
    I know I sounds like an idiot, but it would be just like me to order the wrong test! And - if the results are negative - does that mean my B will not develop Fanconi later?

    Thanks so much!


  • @bewler:

    Okay just so I am clear - can you tell me exactly which test to order (the full name) and I assume I get it from OFA?
    I know I sounds like an idiot, but it would be just like me to order the wrong test! And - if the results are negative - does that mean my B will not develop Fanconi later?

    Thanks so much!

    If you have never had the test done go to www.OFFA.org, then to OFA/MU DNA tests (under Disease Info), then to Fanconi.

    The first DNA Fanconi test listed is for a new test, order this if you had not done the linkage test. If you did the linkage test, scroll down to you get to Fanconi retest, this is if you had done the linkage test. If you order the retest and there is enough DNA on file the test will be done, if there is not enough, a new cheek swab kit will be sent to you.

    With the direct test that means if Clear or Carrier your Basenji will not develop Fanconi


  • @LindaH:

    That's interesting that you've already received your results. I ordered the test on October 30 because of an email I'd received from OFA. The charge never showed up on my credit card statement after several days, so I emailed OFA to find out whether or not they'd actually received the order. They did, and a day or two later, the charge finally showed up on my credit card.

    I just checked the OFA site and they're still showing only the original test that was done back in May. I have not heard back from them regarding the need for another test kit, so am assuming that they have enough DNA to do the retest.

    I'm sure they're swamped with orders for retests, but find it interesting that they apparently don't do the tests in the order that they are received. Perhaps they do tests for breeders first, which I can totally understand, particularly at this time of year when breeding is being done.

    Test are done in order received, OFA would have no idea who is a breeder or who is not. And while the email might have been sent out on the 30th of October, the retest was not available until November 1, 2011. I would have thought you would have your results by now. You should have received a link to check on line with OFA as to the status when you ordered the test?

    As far as the results (on the dogs OFA page), I believe that is only updated twice a month, so while you would have the results, you may not see it for a few weeks updated on your dogs OFA page.


  • @bewler:

    I have a question that may sound stupid, but here goes: if you're not planning to breed your Basenji (mine is neutered) should you still do the test? I ask because everything I have read says you should still do monthly strip testing b/c the OFA tests aren't 100% accurate. So if I need to strip test every month anyway, it's seems redundant. Any advice?
    Thanks!

    It was the linkage test that was/is not 100% accurate, the direct test is. Strip testing would only be necessary if your Basenji came back as Afflicted with the DIRECT TEST.


  • @tanza:

    It was the linkage test that was/is not 100% accurate, the direct test is. Strip testing would only be necessary if your Basenji came back as Afflicted with the DIRECT TEST.

    Wow! Thanks so much for the information! I have a BRAT rescue and because I know nothing of his lineage, I worry. I so appreciate your information!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!


  • Your welcome!


  • Thanks to your prompt advice - I just ordered my test. Okay - so now I am nervous!! 🙂 Cody is my first ever pure-bred Basenji so I find all of this Fanconi stuff daunting.! But I know whatever the results - we'll do what needs to be done. Still - it's all a little scary. But, better to know than not, right? And again, thanks for taking the time to give me the information. This is why I LOVE this group! It's like I have a whole arsenal of folks to help me raise my beautiful B correctly!


  • @bewler:

    Thanks to your prompt advice - I just ordered my test. Okay - so now I am nervous!! 🙂 Cody is my first ever pure-bred Basenji so I find all of this Fanconi stuff daunting.! But I know whatever the results - we'll do what needs to be done. Still - it's all a little scary. But, better to know than not, right? And again, thanks for taking the time to give me the information. This is why I LOVE this group! It's like I have a whole arsenal of folks to help me raise my beautiful B correctly!

    IMO, better to know…. Better yet would be is all breeders would health test before breeding especially now with the Direct test. And even better would be if BRAT tested before placement, or gave the option to the person considering adoption. At least IMO.


  • Linda, when you ordered the retest they should have sent you an email with a link in it to check the status of your order. If you click on that link it will take you to a screen that shows where your sample is in the processing sequence and the result if it has been run. If you never recieved that email or lost it, you can request they resend it, they will ask you for some information to verify that you are the owner of the dog.


  • Pat and Ivoss: That's the thing…I never received an email from OFA except for the one that was in reply to my email to them asking if they'd ever received the order. The woman who replied to my email, Carol Skinner, said they'd received the test and a few days later (November 4), the $50 charge was made to my credit card. I have no idea why there was a 5-day delay between the time I ordered the test online and the time it appeared on my credit card. I can only assume it was because they've been swamped with re-test requests.


  • @LindaH:

    Pat and Ivoss: That's the thing…I never received an email from OFA except for the one that was in reply to my email to them asking if they'd ever received the order. The woman who replied to my email, Carol Skinner, said they'd received the test and a few days later (November 4), the $50 charge was made to my credit card. I have no idea why there was a 5-day delay between the time I ordered the test online and the time it appeared on my credit card. I can only assume it was because they've been swamped with re-test requests.

    I ordered mine on November 1st and got C-Me's "non" results and note of a new kit being sent on November 7th, Franie re-test results were posted to me on November 8th.

    You should contact them again for a status update, they should be able to supply you with the link to check on line for the status of your test request.


  • I have 10 Basenjis being retested.

    For four of them I wanted to have new DNA used in the retest. I ordered two new kits on 13 September 2011 at the full price (one for Lukuru na Liboso Mopaya and one for Lukuru Lema). Both Mopaya and Lema tested "Probably Clear" with the linked marker test.

    I had read several notes about very positive turn-arounds with testing … a typical example was someone who ordered the kit for one of her dogs on the evening of Friday 16 September. The order was not processed until Monday 19 September due to the weekend. Yet, she received their test kit on the following Friday (23 September 2011), swabbed the dog and mailed it out the next day, and found the results posted at the status link by the next Friday (30 September 2011).
    So, I was encouraged by the quick processing.

    Anyway, by 26 September the two kits that I had ordered on 13 September had still not arrived. I checked the order status and it said "Collection kit sent" undated.
    On 4 October there was no change on the order status and no kits had arrived. So I called OFA and left a voice message, followed-up by an email.
    I got an email response on 7 October saying that the two kits had been mailed out and to let me know if I hadn't received them by the following Monday (10 October). Well, the following Monday was a holiday and there was no mail. But, that didn't matter because they did not arrive in Tuesday's mail. So, I sent another email note on Tuesday 11 October and asked for kits to be resent.

    The two kits arrived the following Saturday (15 October). I did the swab for Mopaya and sent it in. The swab for Lema was sent to her home. I followed the database status updates ... which I think is a FABULOUS service!!! OFA received the new swab on 20 October and processed it on 25 October. With the direct gene test, Lukuru na Liboso Mopaya is CLEAR.

    The other eight Lukuru dogs all tested "Indeterminate between Clear and Carrier." There was some discussion in September that the lab would retest all the Indeterminate's at some point just for the research value and I wanted to wait to see if anything was said about that by the 1 November date.

    Since nothing further was said about that, I went ahead and ordered the second two 'new' kits on 26 October 2011 for Lukuru Amisi and Lukuru MPale. Those two kits arrived promptly on 29 October. I collected the DNA and mailed out the new swabs on 31 October. OFA received the two new swabs on 1 November and processed them on 8 November. The results are posted the day they are processed.
    Both Amisi and MPale had been "Indeterminate" with the linked marker test. With the direct gene test, Lukuru Amisi is CLEAR and Lukuru MPale is CLEAR.

    And finally, the six puppies (Amisi X Mopaya) were left to retest.
    Yes, of course I know that they will be CLEAR BY PARENTAGE. But, for the sake of the study, I wanted to have their DNA on file retested with the direct gene test. So, on 2 November I ordered the six retests and the database indicated "Retest Scheduled."

    As I watch people posting results from tests submitted after mine but run in the batch of testing done earlier this week, I began to wonder what had happened to my six retests. So, earlier today I called OFA and asked. Here is what happened today:
    The database has now been changed to "Received 11/09/2011" which I was told means that their DNA has now been pulled from storage and put into the next batch for testing. OFA had just run a huge batch this week and will not be running another Fanconi testing until Monday. So, my final six will be retested on Monday 14 November and the results should be posted that evening. Hopefully they will also have received Lema's swab in time for the Monday run.


  • I recognize those dates in your post, they look like the turn around I had for Sophie. It does seem that there was a batch of swabs that "got lost in the mail" because several people expressed frustration about not recieving them. I am hoping that the new kit for L'Ox is sent quickly so I get that turned around before ordering the next two re-tests.

    As for not recieving the link, I know I lost my first email when I did L'Ox by the linkage test and was able to request it be resent to me. Here is the process posted on the OFA site for requesting a duplicate of your code.

    If you have lost your confirmation code, you may email us (ofa@offa.org) requesting the confirmation code.

    At a minimum, please provide us with:

    •your name and address,
    •the email address on the order,
    •the date you placed your order,
    •your dog's name,
    •breed,
    •birthdate, and
    •registration number.


  • @lvoss:

    I recognize those dates in your post, they look like the turn around I had for Sophie. It does seem that there was a batch of swabs that "got lost in the mail" because several people expressed frustration about not recieving them. I am hoping that the new kit for L'Ox is sent quickly so I get that turned around before ordering the next two re-tests.

    lvoss, it may have been your post that stuck in my mind. 🙂 But there were others that were as encouraging.

    BTW, OFA has been super with customer service and responsiveness. They have been very kind and helpful every time I have contacted them … particularly under the current circumstance when they must be absolutely swamped!


  • @JoT:

    Anyway, by 26 September the two kits that I had ordered on 13 September had still not arrived. I checked the order status and it said "Collection kit sent" undated.
    On 4 October there was no change on the order status and no kits had arrived. So I called OFA and left a voice message, followed-up by an email.
    I got an email response on 7 October saying that the two kits had been mailed out and to let me know if I hadn't received them by the following Monday (10 October). Well, the following Monday was a holiday and there was no mail. But, that didn't matter because they did not arrive in Tuesday's mail. So, I sent another email note on Tuesday 11 October and asked for kits to be resent.

    The kit that I ordered has also not arrived. I called once and they said that if it did not arrive in two weeks to call them back and they will resend a kit. I wonder if anyone else is ordering and not receiving kits.

    I am sure they are really busy right now. Tomorrow I will phone them again and ask for another kit to be sent.


  • Fran, who have you been communicating with at OFA?

    I have been talking to Deb Nichols about the testing kits. If you need her contact details, let me know.


  • And I will see if I get the kit for C-Me that didn't have enough "DNA" for the retest. I also ordered a new kit for Trip that had not been tested yet


  • I am wondering about the retest kit also. It doesn't say it has shipped just "new kit" instead of the result. Hoping it arrives quickly, it was hard enough to wait until November 1st to order the test.


  • I emailed Carol Skinner back, as suggested, asking about the status of Blaze's retest. Carol sent back a copy of the retest…it's the same as before: Carrier.

    In the first email that Carol Skinner sent me saying that they had received my order, she included a link that was supposed to go to the Order Status; however, it just went to the main OFA website. Even now, when I search on Blaze's registered name, all that's showing up is the results of the original test done in May. Even though I now know the results, I'm going to keep checking back to make sure the re-test results show up.


  • @lvoss:

    I am wondering about the retest kit also. It doesn't say it has shipped just "new kit" instead of the result. Hoping it arrives quickly, it was hard enough to wait until November 1st to order the test.

    LOL Lisa, me too…. we can compare notes!

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