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Monday 9am - 8pm Tuesday 9am - 8pm Wednesday 9am - 8pm Thursday 9am - 8pm Friday 9am - 8pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

HealthGene, 9131 Keele St Unit A2, Vaughan, ON (2026)

03/17/2026

Exotic patients require specialized diagnostics 🧬

At 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲, we provide advanced testing solutions tailored for reptiles, ferrets, rabbits, and other exotic species — from PCR panels to comprehensive biochemistry and histopathology.

➔ Diagnostic accuracy you can rely on in practice.

📩 info@healthgene.com
📞 1 877 371 1551

03/13/2026

🦜 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

Early detection is essential for controlling infectious diseases and protecting bird populations. Our Avian General Profile PCR Panel provides veterinarians and bird professionals with a reliable molecular screening tool for some of the most important infectious pathogens affecting companion birds and aviary collections.

This comprehensive panel tests for:

➜ Avian Polyomavirus (APV) – a highly contagious virus that can affect both young and adult birds.
➜ Chlamydia psittaci – a zoonotic pathogen associated with respiratory and systemic disease.
➜ Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Virus (PBFD) – a critical viral infection causing feather abnormalities, beak lesions, and immunosuppression.
➜ Pacheco’s Disease Virus (PsHV-1) – a herpesvirus responsible for sudden death, hepatic disease, and high-mortality outbreaks.

✔ Ideal for routine wellness screening
✔ Recommended for pre-purchase or pre-boarding testing
✔ Valuable for aviary flock health monitoring
✔ Supports early diagnosis and timely clinical decisions

Using high-sensitivity PCR technology, a single submission provides a comprehensive infectious disease assessment to support responsible bird care and biosecurity.

📩 Custom PCR panels are also available upon request to meet specific diagnostic needs.

📬 info@healthgene.com
📞 1 877 371 1551

03/09/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀

When an animal is in critical condition, time matters.
In veterinary diagnostics, 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 (𝗧𝗔𝗧) means the time between collecting a sample and receiving the lab results. In acute cases, every hour can influence clinical decisions, treatment success, and sometimes even survival.

Here’s why fast lab results are so important:

🔬 Faster Diagnosis
Many emergency veterinary cases progress rapidly, including:
• Sepsis
• Acute anemia or hemorrhage
• Toxic exposure
• Kidney or liver failure
• Severe infections
If results are delayed, veterinarians may have to rely on “guesswork”, which increases the risk of choosing the wrong treatment.

⚡ Better Care for Emergency Patients
Rapid diagnostics help veterinarians quickly detect critical conditions such as:
• Dangerous electrolyte abnormalities
• Severe anemia requiring transfusion
• Acute inflammatory responses
Early detection avoids irreversible damage.

🏥 A Strong Advantage for Veterinary Clinics
Clinics with access to fast laboratory diagnostics can:
• Manage emergency cases more efficiently
• Reduce referrals
• Retain more cases
• Strengthen their clinical reputation

🎯 From Empirical Treatment to Targeted Therapy
Now, imagine a situation where adjusting the treatment is crucial to its success.
When lab data is available quickly, veterinarians can move from guess-based treatment to precise, targeted therapy much sooner.
Every hour saved in diagnostics can improve recovery and survival for animal patients.

03/05/2026

🐱 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬?

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (𝐅𝐈𝐕) and Feline Leukemia Virus (𝐅𝐞𝐋𝐕) are two of the most important infectious diseases affecting cats worldwide, since both viruses attack the immune system, leading to serious health complications.

Many infected cats may appear healthy at first, but these viruses gradually weaken the immune system and can lead to serious diseases.

➡ FIV attacks immune cells, making cats more vulnerable to infections over time.
➡ FeLV can cause conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, and immune suppression.

How are these viruses transmitted?

• FIV is mainly through deep bite wounds during fights, most commonly among outdoor male cats.
• FeLV is spread through saliva, grooming, bite wounds, milk, and from mother to kittens.

Common symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Weight loss
• Chronic infections
• Gastrointestinal or respiratory issues

Since FIV and FeLV both affect the immune system and may produce similar clinical signs, veterinarians commonly test for both viruses together to achieve an accurate diagnosis and guide appropriate clinical management.

🔬 At 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, we perform daily testing for FIV and FeLV using both ELISA and PCR methods, providing reliable diagnostic support for veterinary clinics.

For more information about testing services, feel free to contact us.
HealthGene – Professional Reference Laboratory

📩info@healthgene.com
☎️1 877 371 1551

03/03/2026

🦜 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐈𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞?

In many avian species, males and females look virtually identical. These are known as monomorphic species — and visual identification is often impossible, even for experienced professionals.

This is where DNA-based s*x determination becomes essential.

Why DNA Sexing Matters in Avian Medicine

✔ 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
Phenotypic traits can be misleading. DNA analysis of s*x-specific genetic markers provides >99% accuracy.

✔ 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯-𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨
Correct s*x identification supports proper diagnosis and management of s*x-related conditions, including reproductive disorders, egg-binding risk, and hormone-associated health issues.

✔ 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺
Testing can be performed at a young age — well before physical differentiation occurs — enabling timely medical planning and management.

✔ 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨
Feathers or a small blood sample are sufficient. No surgical procedures required.

For monomorphic species, DNA testing is the clinical gold standard: precise, reliable, and efficient.

𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚 provides professional DNA-based avian s*x determination services across Canada, supporting veterinary clinics and avian health professionals with dependable laboratory results.

To learn more:
📧 info@healthgene.com
📞 +1 877 371 1551

*xing

02/27/2026

𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭-𝐒𝐨-𝐎𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐂𝐑 ⚠️

As PCR tests are highly sensitive, pre-analytical errors can significantly impact result accuracy. With that in mind, HealthGene has sorted out five commonly overlooked mistakes — and how to prevent them.

1️⃣ 𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑇𝑦𝑝𝑒

It may seem logical at first glance, but using the appropriate biological material for the suspected pathogen is crucial.

Examples:
• Submitting serum for a pathogen detectable only in whole blood (EDTA)
• Sending f***s for a pathogen best detected in swabs
• Collecting nasal swabs for a pathogen primarily present in blood

Prevention: Follow pathogen-specific sampling guidelines.

2️⃣ 𝐼𝑛𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦

PCR testing multiplies DNA so the part interested can be spotted, but insufficient cellular material leads to low nucleic acid yield.

Examples:
• Superficial swabbing
• Small blood volume
• Poorly collected skin scrapings

Rule: PCR requires adequate target material — poor sampling equals poor detection.

3️⃣ 𝐻𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Especially relevant for RNA viruses, since unstable RNA can degrade quickly if samples are not handled properly.

Causes:
• Delayed shipping
• Improper temperature control
• Repeated freeze–thaw cycles

Best practice:
• Refrigerate (2–8°C) short term
• Freeze (-20°C or -80°C) if delayed
• Avoid repeated thawing

4️⃣ 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼𝑛ℎ𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑃𝐶𝑅

Anticoagulant Suitability for blood samples:

✅ EDTA ➜ Preferred
❌ Heparin ➜ Inhibits PCR
⚠️ Citrate ➜ Sometimes problematic

Heparin is a known PCR inhibitor. Citrate might possibly cause Mg²⁺ interference + dilution effect.

5️⃣ 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑣𝑠. 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Especially in:

• Skin
• Nasal cavity
• F***l samples

Detection of DNA does not always mean active infection, which is why clinical correlation is essential.

Have questions about sampling for PCR? HealthGene is here to support your diagnostic decisions.

info@healthgene.com
1 877 371 1551

02/26/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐂𝐑 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? 🧬

It can be tricky to decide whether to choose DNA-based test or a different assay. So, it's important to understand what each method is best suited for.

PCR is particularly valuable for infectious disease diagnostics, especially viral, fastidious bacterial, protozoal, and some fungal pathogens.

Here are the main factors to consider:

🦠𝑨𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 (𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆)

→ Clinical signs are present but antibodies are not yet detectable
→ Rapid intervention affects outcome (e.g., antivirals, isolation)

Why? PCR detects pathogen nucleic acid directly, not host immune response.

🧫𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆

→ Virus infections
→ 𝑀𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑚𝑎 𝑠𝑝𝑝.
→ 𝐶ℎ𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑦𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑠𝑠𝑝.

Why? Viruses and 𝐶ℎ𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑦𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑠𝑠𝑝. are obligate intracellular organisms. In addition, 𝑀𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑚𝑎 𝑠𝑝𝑝. have fastidious growth requirements.

☣️𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 & 𝑩𝒊𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚

→ Avian influenza
→ Leptospira
→ Rabies (post-mortem PCR confirmation)

Why? Rapid herd/flock-level diagnosis is needed and Zoonotic risk exists.

🩸𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝑰𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆

→ Vaccination interferes with antibody interpretation
→ You need active infection confirmation
→ Maternal antibodies confound results

PCR is most useful when:

✔ Early detection changes clinical decisions
✔ The pathogen is not culture-amenable
✔ Rapid biosecurity action is required
✔ Antibody testing cannot provide clarity

It is not about ordering “𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝” tests. It is about ordering the 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 at the right time.

Do you use 𝐏𝐂𝐑 routinely in your practice, or only in specific clinical scenarios?

02/24/2026

Here’s Why HealthGene is Your Trusted Diagnostic Partner.🔬

With over 25 years of diagnostic excellence, HealthGene is proud to support veterinarians across Canada with fast, precise, and expert-driven lab results.

Follow HealthGene for expert diagnostic insights.

02/23/2026

🧬Welcome to HealthGene 🔬

HealthGene is a professional reference laboratory specializing in veterinary molecular diagnostics.

We support veterinary professionals in small and large animal practice, accepting samples from clinics across Canada for reliable PCR-based testing in:

✔ Veterinary diagnostic testing across species (small, large, exotic)
✔ PCR-based pathogen detection panels (tick-borne, respiratory, gastrointestinal)
✔ Genetic testing services (canine, feline, avian)
✔ DNA extraction and molecular laboratory services
✔ Specialty panels including heartworm PCR, infectious skin panels, f***l bundles and BRAF testing

Our focus is precision, speed and clinically actionable results.

📩 info@healthgene.com
📞+1 877 371 1551

HealthGene

03/17/2026

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Monday	9am - 8pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 8pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Friday	9am - 8pm
Saturday	10am - 3pm