Diagnostic Services and Muscle Biopsy
Please note that the laboratory is located at the RVC Camden campus. Please ensure you use the correct address for shipping samples.
In addition to basic research studies, the laboratory provides a comprehensive diagnostic histopathology service for the evaluation of equine neuromuscular disease. Muscle biopsy samples are examined using a variety of histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. Small animal (dog and cat) muscle samples are also received and evaluated in collaboration with Dr. Diane Shelton's laboratory in California: (further details of this service). Vets with clinical queries should contact Richard Piercy at the Equine Referral Hospital. Trainers and horse owners should contact the laboratory indirectly via their own veterinary surgeon. Equine muscle biopsy results generally are available in 10 working days.
A podcast that covers recent developments in the field of equine exertional rhabdomyolysis is available: please follow this link and scroll down to RVC podcast 32..
Lactate and pyruvate testing is available through a collaboration with University College London. For mitochondrial enzyme analysis, carnitine and lipid profile assays and mutational screening, please contact the laboratory.
Sample submission
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please telephone the laboratory at least a day in advance to ensure we know when to expect delivery. Samples should not be sent out on a friday as they cannot be processed over the weekend and will be wasted. We recommend that you contact a reliable courier for shipment prior to obtaining the biopsy sample.
Note that for a thorough pathological evaluation we require a fresh muscle biopsy that is sent to the laboratory chilled (on ice packs). Keeping the sample cold, but not frozen is crucial to avoid artefact. Although we also suggest that you send a biopsy sample fixed in formalin, this latter sample is only used as a back up, in case of unexpected delays. Many routine tests cannot be performed on formalin-fixed muscle.
Please collect and package muscle biopsy samples according to the details on the information sheet, complete a submission form, and send to the laboratory in a clearly labelled polystyrene box, using the appropriate address label. For further details about packaging samples, please contact the laboratory.
International shipments (click here).
Blood samples (for DNA): we are currently banking DNA samples from horses with neuromuscular diseases, and we encourage you to send in a sample of blood in EDTA (approximately 10ml). Client and horse details will remain confidential. Blood samples can be sent together with muscle samples in the same package. For genetic testing for polysaccharide storage myopathy, click here.