horse in window

In order for a horse to be enrolled, each horse must meet the following entrance criteria

  • Only new cases suspected of PPID (not previously diagnosed)
  • Horses should exhibit one or more early or advanced clinical signs.
  • Horses currently being administered medical therapy for PPID are excluded, except horses being administered compounded pergolide. 

How the IDPPID Testing Program works

Our testing program provides veterinarians with tools to help recognize and diagnose PPID. Here are the steps:

vet at car

Pre-diagnosis

Identify horses with early or advanced clinical signs that meet program criteria. 

vet and boy in barn

Horse enrollment

To enroll the horse being evaluated, you must register as an individual veterinarian or as a veterinary clinic. Signing up will give you access to a dashboard where you can see:

  • Instructions
  • Plasma sample submission forms
  • Test results
woman with horse

Data gathering and analysis

Boehringer Ingelheim will compile data collected (over 35,000 horses have been tested) to gain new insights that may lead to better understanding of the clinical signs and their association with the disease.

You can find more information about the results in the Resources section of this website.

RESTING ACTH

Detecting excessive endogenous plasma ACTH is the most common diagnostic test for PPID. EDTA plasma is specifically needed for resting ACTH testing.

Click the attachment below and follow the instructions to collect and submit a plasma sample for evaluation.

RESTING ACTH TESTING INSTRUCTIONS

TRH STIMULATION TEST

(NON-FALL MONTHS ONLY)

The TRH stimulation test is recommended by the EEG for diagnosing PPID in cases when horses have signs of early PPID or when horses have normal resting ACTH concentrations.

TRH testing from July through December is not recommended at this time.

Click the attachment below and follow the instructions to collect and submit a plasma sample.

TRH STIMULATION TEST INSTRUCTIONS

INSULIN & GLUCOSE

Insulin dysregulation can be confirmed by measuring plasma insulin. Glucose concentration can also be measured during this process. The plasma sample collected for testing ACTH can also be used for insulin and glucose testing. 

Click the attachment below and follow the instructions to collect and submit a plasma sample for resting insulin evaluation. 

INSULIN & GLUCOSE TESTING INSTRUCTIONS

COLLECTING & PROCESSING BLOOD SAMPLES

How to process your sample

  1. For sample submission, only one (1) purple-top (EDTA) tube is required per horse.
  2. Follow the instructions detailed in Collection, Processing and Submission (PDF)
  3. The purple-top (EDTA) tube is for ACTH, insulin and glucose.
  4. After obtaining the sample, immediately place sample in a cool place.
  5. Within the same calendar day as you obtain the sample, spin sample and remove plasma (portion on top) from the purple-top (EDTA) tube and transfer plasma to either a red-top or purple-top (EDTA) tube.
  6. Caution: Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) will NOT process samples if the purple-top (EDTA) tube is not spun down and plasma separated.
  7. Plasma can now be shipped unfrozen, or frozen if shipment is going to be delayed.
  8. Ship plasma with an ice pack.
  9. If samples are frozen prior to shipment and shipped with an ice pack, they will arrive at the diagnostic laboratory thawed but still cool.

JOIN OUR IDPPID TESTING PROGRAM

Our program includes tools for veterinarians to enroll horses and keep track of results.

  • When you sign up for our IDPPID Testing Program, our dashboard can help keep your results organized.
  • Individual veterinarians can enroll horses, track progress and view results.
  • Veterinary clinics/administrator can track their group of veterinarians and assist them with enrollment and submissions.
  • To explore the dashboard, sign up for a new account or log in with an existing account from previous testing years.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question: 

WHAT BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PAYS FOR?

Answer: 

Boehringer Ingelheim will cover the cost for the following tests per horse:

During Spring Testing:

  • One ACTH Baseline 
  • One ACTH Post TRH Response
  • One Glucose
  • One Insulin

During Fall Testing:

  • One ACTH Baseline
  • One Glucose
  • One Insulin
Question: 

HOW MANY HORSES MAY BE TESTED?

Answer: 

Each testing period, Boehringer Ingelheim will cover the cost to test two horses per veterinarian. 

Question: 

SHOULD I FAST HORSES PRIOR TO HAVING BLOOD PULLED FOR RESTING INSULIN?

Answer: 

No. Do not feed grain within 4 hours of pulling blood sample for resting insulin. Leave horses on hay and/or pasture as per normal management practices.1 See Feeding Instructions Prior to Determination of Resting Insulin .

Question: 

WHY SHOULD I USE THE TRH STIMULATION TESTING?

Answer: 

The Equine Endocrinology Group (EEG) recommended the TRH stimulation test for diagnosing horses that have subtle or early PPID or horses with clinical signs of PPID and a normal resting ACTH concentration.2

Question: 

CAN I USE THE TRH STIMULATION TESTING ALL YEAR LONG?

Answer: 

At this time, reference intervals are only available to test horses using the TRH stimulation test from January through June. TRH testing from July through December is not recommended at this time.

Question: 

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE TRH?

Answer: 

 The chemical grade of TRH is not available to veterinarians. Compounded TRH is available. The only compounded TRH that has been compared to the chemical grade is manufactured by Wedgewood Pharmacy.3

REFERENCE

1  Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). 2018. Equine Endocrinology Group

2  Equine Endocrinology Group Recommendations, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

3  Goodale L, Hermida P, D’Oench S, Frank N. Assessment of compounded thyrotropin-releasing hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses. ACVIM Annual Forum, Seattle, Washington. J Vet Intern Med. 2013;27:656.