Frequently asked questions

Whether you want to breed animals or just buying a pet, it is important to know if the animal will be healthy or it will have a certain trait. Furthermore, with the information about risks of certain disease you can be sure if offspring of parents will be healthy. It is very important to know if animal is homozygous or heterozygous, because even if it’s not sick, the mutation can be transmitted to offspring. DNA testing can help in decision making about care of pet, breeding plan or even buying a pet.

Genetic tests can be made at any age (also for newborn cubs) and the results will be valid for entire life of the animal.

As standard, testing is performed with the animal’s registration details (for example, microchip number). However, if you need an official test, you need to have the animal's identity confirmed (this may be a veterinarian or a representative of the responsible association), what will also be stated in the test results.

STR profile is an individual data about the genetic code of an animal, the so-called genetic passport, which is unique for each individual animal.
The STR profile is more often used to accurately determine the origin of an animal from a particular parent, as well as to check or confirm pedigrees. VetGen is institutional member of ISAG providing STR profile results that complies with ISAG nomenclature and standart.

Even if the animal’s parents seem to be known, this is not always the case. Due to frequency of mistakes by breeders, sometimes breeding clubs and associations can ask for DNA testing prior to animal registration. It also gives reassurance for owners that the parents of the animal are the ones indicated.

In parentage testing it is better to test both parents of animal, because by knowing mother’s genetic profile it is possible to determine more precisely which genetic markers are inherited from mother and which from father. Testing both parents can assure more accurate results.

If your dog has parents from two different breeds or they are hybrid breed, we recommend to choose tests for common diseases in both parent breeds. We also offer DNA tests for hybrid breeds such as Labradoodle, Sheepadoodle, Bernedoodle, etc.

Animal Healh Panels/Kits contain tests for most common inherited diseases in certain breeds. Also these panels comes with included discount up to 40 percent, so it’s cheaper than buy these tests seperately. If you need particular health panel that is not in our shop, please contact us by mail vetgen@genera.lv.

Our offer of DNA tests is regularly updated with new tests. But if the test you wish to perform is not in our offer, feel free to contact us (vetgen@genera.lv).

No, the DNA test results for each particular disease or trait are constant throughout the animal's life.

If you have a discount coupon you can use it during checkout process before making payment. You can use only one coupon at a time.

Enter a code to receive a 10% discount - 4HIH62KFY03I (At least 3 products in one purchase)
Enter a code to receive a 15% discount - DCHUW7UWH148 (At least 3 products in one purchase)

(For now automatic bulk discounts are not available) Bulk discounts are available in the VetGen e-shop and are automatically applied to the cart. If you purchase at least 3 DNA tests at once, you’ll get a 10% discount, but if you buy at least 6 DNA tests at once, you will automatically receive a 15% discount.

VetGen offers the possibility to conclude a cooperation agreement without obligations. As standard, VetGen offers for it’s partners a 15% discount on any DNA test, as well as bulk discounts of up to 25%.

For all DNA tests VetGen uses non-invasive saliva or oral mucosa samples, which can be easy collected by buccal swab. All instructions are included in sample collection kit.

Taking samples is simple and painless and inside the sample collection kit is included detailed and easy to understand instructions. Instructions can also bedownloaded.

No, you don’t need to send several samples for each DNA test, but we recommend to send more than 1-2 samples in case if sampling is not proper and we need more DNA. If you want to order several tests for one animal we advise to buy Test kits/Health panels. Also we can make one if the tests you need is not in our offer yet.

If you have several animals, it is important that they do not use the same food and water bowls for at least 2 hours before sample collection and also do not come into contact with each other. This is necessary in order to avoid cross contamination of testing animal DNA with other animals DNA and therefore, incorrect results.

When taking samples from multiple animals, it’s important to follow above mentioned details about sharing food and water as well as sampling process itself. Take samples sequentially for each animal individually from the first to the last step (by following instructions), and wash your hands between the animals or change gloves if you use them. Indicate each animal’s sample.

Taking samples from animals younger than 8 weeks is risky because of the possibility of cross contamination between mother or other animals within the same litter. In such case the laboratory do not take the responsibility for incorrect results. We recommend separating the animals from the mother and from each other for at least two hours prior sample taking and rinse the animal’s mouth with water if possible. We recommend that you do not feed or provide plenty of water for an hour before sampling.

If the sample was not taken properly, you can also use cosmetic swabs which are not previously used (from a freshly opened package).

Collecting samples in VetGen laboratory is not possible as animals are not admitted in the laboratory. 

Usually turnaround time for testing is within 10 or less business days. About any changes for getting your results we will inform you. Also if you need results as soon as possible please contact us.

The results will be sent when DNA testing is completed (for each test individual, if you bought several tests at one time). Test report or results in encrypted form will be sent to mentioned e-mail address as PDF document. To open them you will need to use password sent before to mentioned phone number. Information about testing results will not be given by phone due to confidentiality.

When laboratory receive and register samples, you will receive a password for opening results to specified phone number. The test results will be sent to the e-mail address later, after testing will be completed.

The test report is in English/Latvian language. It contains from certificate with test results and identification data of the animal.

We recommend to consult your veterinary practitioner for consultation and next steps about particular disease. If animal has only one mutation (for autosomal recessive diseases), it should be bred only with healthy animal with no disease alleles in order for healthy offspring.

VWe will send sample collection kit to you for free, but for sending samples back to us you will need to go to local post office and pay for standard delivery for ordinary postal items (letter), but better to choose to send samples as registered postal items with tracking number.

VetGen.eu accepts orders worldwide. We will send sample collection kit to you for free (in Europe), but for sending samples back to us you will need to go to local post office and pay for standard delivery for ordinary postal items (letter), but better to choose to send samples as registered postal items with tracking number. But if you need information about conditions and shipping costs to a specific country, please contact us through e-mail vetgen@genera.lv or our online contact form.

The test results show the information about animal, the name of the test performed, the test method, and the results - whether or not a mutation has been found, as well as the genotype - homozygous / heterozygous.
See an example here.

All DNA tests for animals offered in our laboratory are based on scientific studies in which disease/phenotype causing mutations are shown to be relevant to specific breed. VetGen laboratory is a brand of Ltd. GenEra (laboratory Ltd. GenEra is accredited according to the ISO 15189 standard). Our tests are performed in accordance with ISO 15189 standard, using the latest technology and equipment.

Yes, VetGen is brand of Ltd. GenEra laboratory. GenEra is medical genetic testing laboratory that offers DNA testing for more than 20 years for humans and now also for animals. Laboratory have ISO 15189 medical accreditation,  which requires higher competence and standards than ISO 17025 accreditation.