Noble Manes Cattery uses PCR Testing on all breeding pairs to screen for infections and parasites in an effort to maintain the highest level of health in our animals. Services are performed by Zoologix Inc., located at 9811 Owensmouth Avenue, Suite 4, Chatsworth CA 91311.

Molecular testing using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) has revolutionized the way veterinarians, researchers, zoos, breeders and other animal care facilities maintain animal health and obtain disease data.

The sensitivity, specificity and speed with which pathogens and mutations are identified by PCR enable diagnostic, research and monitoring possibilities unavailable using other techniques. Molecular techniques represent a dramatically effective tool for the diagnosis of disease in dogs, cats and other animals.

In PCR testing, nucleic acid — DNA or RNA — is isolated from a specimen, then amplified (after an extra reverse transcription step in the case of RNA) using highly specific primers complementary to known target sequences. Positive and negative controls are run simultaneously; internal controls monitor extraction and PCR efficiency. Each sample is run in duplicate aliquots to check repeatability. Amplification is visualized and recorded using state-of-the-art protocols and instrumentation.