Spec fPL® Test
(feline pancreas-specific lipase)

Now a simple test can tell if pancreatitis is the culprit

 

It’s true—every Under the Weather cat you see could have pancreatitis. Because history, physical examination and routine laboratory findings are nonspecific, you may not realise just how common pancreatitis is in cats.

A recent study published in The Journal of Veterinary Pathology showed 67% of cats presented for necropsy irrespective of the cause of death, had histologic evidence of pancreatitis, including 45% of apparently healthy cats.1 And while prevalence of clinically significant pancreatitis is likely not this high, the findings suggest that a variety of conditions often have concurrent pancreatitis.

 

 
Spec fPL Test
Every Under the Weather cat you see could have pancreatitis.

The most accurate feline pancreatitis test available

 

The Spec fPL® test is a simple blood test that detects the level of pancreatic lipase in the blood and provides information about the health of your patient’s pancreas.

So now when nonspecific presenting signs blur the picture, you’ll be able to make diagnostic and treatment recommendations for feline pancreatitis (PDF) with greater confidence.

 

Proven:

The Spec fPL Test was developed from the fPLI test in partnership with Drs. Williams and Steiner at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University.

 

Accurate:

  • Sensitivity of the fPLI test was 100% in moderate to severe cases of pancreatitis and 54% in mild cases, with an overall sensitivity of 67%.
  • Specificity of the fPLI test was 100% in healthy cats and 67% in symptomatic cats with histologically normal pancreata, with an overall specificity of 91%.2

 

Quantitative next-day results:

The Spec fPL Test provides specific easy-to-interpret results to help you quickly diagnose and monitor your patient’s progress.

 

References:
1.
De Cock HEV, Forman MA, Farver TB, Marks SL. Prevalence and histopathologic characteristics of pancreatitis in cats. Vet Pathol. 2007;44:39—49.
2.
Forman MA, Marks SL, De Cock HE, et al. Evaluation of serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity and helical computed tomography versus conventional testing for the diagnosis of feline pancreatitis. J Vet Intern Med. 2004;18:807–815

Available Spec fPL® Tests

 

It’s easy to get more information about the health of your patients by including a Spec fPL Test (feline pancreas-specific lipase) with your favourite sick cat panels and profiles.

For your convenience, here are the Spec fPL-related test codes at a glance.

Test CodeName and Contents

PANF

Under The Weather Profile

Comprehensive Haematology, Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin, A:G Ratio, Urea, Creatinine, ALT, ALP, GGT, Amylase, Total Bilirubin, Glucose, Spec fPL

FPLI

Spec fPL

AFPL

Add on Spec fPL

 

*Please see the IDEXX Directory of Tests and Services for specific turnaround times.

 

Specimen requirements:

For Spec fPL tests, please provide 1 mL of separated serum

When used in combination with other tests in a panel, please refer to the IDEXX Directory of Tests and Services for a complete list of specimen requirements.

Fasted sample preferred.

Clinical Guidance on Feline Pancreatitis

 

IDEXX Spec cPL Accuracy Data Chart
Resource List