Alertys is ideal for Vets
Quick and accurate testing for cattle-focused veterinary practices
Make your veterinary practice future-proof with Alertys tests
With Alertys, you can maintain the level of service you want to deliver, and the level of service your customers expect.
Alertys does away with the physically demanding and potentially dangerous work of manual, invasive pregnancy diagnosis testing - which is stressful for the Vet, stressful for the cow.
Instead, we've developed a comprehensive range of sample-based pregnancy tests that need only milk or blood to confirm pregnancy status.
Alertys tests detect PAG,
which is very specific for pregnancy
Unlike progesterone testing, the IDEXX Alertys tests detect pregnancy-specific proteins called pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs). Because progesterone is a hormone that occurs with peaks and troughs during the normal reproductive cycle and is not pregnancy-specific, progesterone testing is not seen as a reliable method for pregnancy diagnosis.
The pregnancy-specific proteins targeted by the Alertys tests from IDEXX are expressed in the embryonic regions of the placenta and detected in maternal fluids such as blood and milk. They are therefore only produced in the presence of an embryo or foetus, which means that the test is highly reliable.
Alertys Rapid Visual as an optimal cow pregnancy testing option for veterinary practices
Save yourself the physical labour of countless individual cow examinations. When it comes to in-clinic pregnancy diagnosis, use Alertys Rapid Visual (RVPT) to switch your time and expertise into focused, strategic advice – and help your customers increase herd health, fertility and productivity.
Designed for veterinary practices and clinics, and requiring no laboratory equipment, Alertys Rapid Visual is the only whole-blood test that can deliver a fast and accurate on-farm pregnancy diagnosis on up to 25 cows in just 20-30 minutes.
Alertys Rapid Visual can detect pregnant and open cows as soon as 28 days after service. Reliant on detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), which are only produced in the embryonic regions of the placenta, the test is highly accurate.
Sample Type | Sensitivity¹ | Specificity¹ |
|---|---|---|
Serum | 98.4% | 96.5% |
Plasma (EDTA) | 98.7% | 98.9% |
Whole blood (EDTA) | 99.1% | 95.0% |
¹Mayo, Lauren & Moore, Stephen & Poock, Scott & Silvia, W.J. & Lucy, M.C.. (2016). Technical note: Validation of a chemical pregnancy test in dairy cows that uses whole blood, shortened incubation times, and visual readout. Journal of Dairy Science. 99. 10.3168/jds.2016-11224.
How it works
Alertys Rapid Visual is an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) that provides a rapid and accurate visual result, without ELISA instrumentation.
By measuring pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in whole blood (EDTA), plasma (EDTA) or serum, the test can detect pregnant cows and open cows as early as 28 days after service, with no interference from a previous pregnancy after 60 days post-calving.
Reproductive performance improves when farmers, veterinarians and breeding companies work together
Alertys Rapid Visual is one of four tests from IDEXX, all designed to make cow pregnancy diagnosis less stressful for the cow and more useful for the farmer.
For the Vet, adding Alertys to your reproductive advice toolbox gives you the opportunity to focus your time, expertise and specialised knowledge on providing strategic advice and addressing individual cow fertility problems.
While some of our tests have been designed to be farmer-led, the entire Alertys range is devised to add value to the farmer-Vet relationship. IDEXX encourages farmers to use Alertys as a pregnancy diagnosis tool within a whole-herd health plan, in conjunction with expert veterinary advice.
Alertys Milk | Alertys Ruminant | Alertys RVPT | Alertys OnFarm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Test format | Lab ELISA
(5/strip/480) | Lab ELISA
(5/strip/480) | Manual strip ELISA
(2/strip/192) | Lateral Flow
(25 individual sets) |
Max # of samples tested/kit | 460 | 460 | 180 | 25 |
Product code | 99-41209 | 99-41169 | 99-41369 | 98-26441-00 |
Species | Bovine, caprine, ovine, water buffalo | Bovine, caprine, ovine, water buffalo | Bovine, caprine, ovine, water buffalo | Bovine only |
Sample type | Milk | Serum, Plasma | Blood, serum, plasma | Whole blood (EDTA), serum, plasma |
Sensitivity ≥ 28 days post breeding | 98.7% bovine milk
(94.9%-100% others) | 99.3% bovine serum
(98-100% other) | 98.6% bovine blood
(89.7 - 100% others) | 99.7% |
Specificity days post calving | 94.4% ≥ 60 bovine
(94.4-100%) | 93.8% ≥ 60 bovine serum
(91.4-100%) | 92.4% >60 bovine blood
(92.4-100%) | 98.1% >70 days post calving |
Assay Time | 4 hours | 3 hours | 30 minutes | 5-20 minutes |
Test location place and temp | Lab | Lab | Farm or clinic office | On-farm at 10-40°C |
Storage Temp | 2-8°C | 2-8°C | 2-8°C | 15-30°C |
"Ultrasound and Alertys tests are both reliable pregcheck methods. A mix-and-match approach can be a great way to move forward for many herds"
Owen Atkinson
Founder and Director of Dairy Veterinary Consultancy Ltd
Owen has worked in farm animal practice for over 25 years. His current firm is providing independent health, production and welfare advice, training to farmers, other Vets, and professionals in the dairy and allied industries.
Check out his latest series of 4 videos which he explained what PAG is and how to best integrate Alertys tests into your farm.
