The product, called Heska Feline ImmunCheck Assays, determines the serum levels of antibodies that are specific to three common viral diseases of cats: feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus. ImmunCheck identifies whether an individual patient possesses an adequate level of protection from these diseases. If there is an appropriate amount of antibodies, then booster shots are not necessary—and the risk of side effects is reduced. Robert Grieve, chief executive officer of Heska, said ImmunCheck is important, given the potential dangers that vaccination harbors.

"Vaccines are an important part of any feline preventive health program," he said. "However, vaccination is a medical procedure that has its own inherent risks as well as benefits. Vaccines are capable of causing a wide variety of adverse side effects…Repeated use of injectable vaccines may contribute to these adverse reactions."

ImmunCheck was developed and evaluated through studies performed in collaboration with Dr. Michael Lappin, professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University’s veterinary college and a member of the VetCentric Editorial Board. The results of Dr. Lappin’s studies, presented at last month’s annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, documented that a positive result in the Feline ImmunCheck Assays predicted protection from the three viral diseases.

According to Mr. Grieve, Heska currently is developing a product that will allow veterinarians to use the assays in their clinics.

Heska’s debut of ImmunCheck comes on the heels of a major shake-up this year in the way vaccination is viewed by veterinarians. In January, the American Medical Veterinary Association announced that it would begin reviewing its guidelines for vaccinating patients on a yearly basis because of reports of injection site tumors. The organization, however, stopped short of actually recommending that veterinarians reduce the frequency with which they vaccinate pets.

In 1998, the American Association of Feline Practitioners issued its own set of recommendations, calling upon veterinarians to take a number of factors into account when deciding upon the frequency of vaccination for an individual patient, including risk of exposure and past negative reactions to booster shots.