Diagnostic

Question 1

What is the most important aspect of dealing with toxicosis?

Answer 1

Accurate or confirmed diagnosis

Question 2

True or False: Diagnosis of poisoning is relatively easy

Answer 2

False! It is not easy

Question 3

True or False: Specific treatment or prevention is based on accurate diagnosis

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the best process in diagnosing poisoning?

Answer 4

The process of elimination

Question 5

Tentative Diagnosis

Answer 5

Can be obtained by detailed case history, thorough clinical and postmortem examination.

Question 6

Presumptive Diagnosis

Answer 6

• Can be reached when the history and clinical signs are supported by circumstantial evidence and identification of the source of poisoning
• Sometimes response to a specific antidotal treatment may help making a presumptive diagnosis

Question 7

Confirmed Diagnosis

Answer 7

May be reached by using ALL CRITERIA OF DIAGNOSIS including laboratory work (sampling, interpretation)

Question 8

Criteria of Diagnosis

Answer 8

• Case History
• Clinical Signs
• Postmortem Findings
• Laboratory diagnosis
• Laboratory animal tests

Question 9

Case History

Answer 9

• Looking for evidence
• Relying on information provided by the owner or caretaker and may be misleading
• Make sure that the animals has ingested or has been exposed to the poison at a certain level
• The food and water should be examined for the presence of toxic agents
• Information and questions depend on if the animal is a farm animal or a companion animal

Question 10

Things to know for Farm Animals

Answer 10

• Number of animals - Number of affected animals - Number of dead - Course of disease - type of management - feeding - vaccination - use of insecticides/herbicides - past illness - presence of poisonous plants - detailed clinical signs and post mortem findings

Question 11

Things to know for Companion Animals

Answer 11

Is the animal indoor or outdoors, use of any drugs, insecticides, rodenticides, household chemicals, vaccination, etc.

Question 12

True or False: It is common for toxicant related diseases to have pathognomonic signs

Answer 12

False. Most do not have pathognomonic signs

Question 13

Why are negative postmortem results just as good as positive postmortem results in diagnosis?

Answer 13

Process of Elimination

Question 14

True or False: Postmortem exams must include toxicology for legal cases

Answer 14

True

Question 15

True or False: All labs are created equal when it comes to reviewing toxicology results

Answer 15

False. Make sure it is a qualified toxicology laboratory

Question 16

True or False: A diagnosis can be confirmed solely on positive chemical results?

Answer 16

False. Although positive chemical results can help confirm a diagnosis, it should be consistent with all other criteria

Question 17

True or False: Accuracy of chemical results depend on good sampling

Answer 17

True

Question 18

What is the most important thing to consider when interpreting results?

Answer 18

Other Evidence (always remember the diagnosis relies on several factors)

Question 19

True or False: Positive results always indicate intoxication and Negative results always indicate poisoning did not occur.

Answer 19

False. Positive results do not always mean intoxication, and negative results do not always mean that poisoning did not occur.

Question 20

Who usually performs lab animal tests?

Answer 20

Toxicology Lab

Question 21

True of False: Lab animal tests do not involve the use of actual animals

Answer 21

False: the suspected material (food or water) is administered to susceptible animal and effects are observed

Question 22

True or False: It doesn’t matter what species the suspected material is administered to

Answer 22

False, it is more relevant to administer to the same species that was exposed to the suspected toxicant

Question 23

True or False: Positive results may be helpful in aiding diagnosis

Answer 23

True

Question 24

True or False: Negative results do not eliminate the possibility of intoxication

Answer 24

True

Question 25

If the specimen is being evaluated for toxicants qualitatively, what is being identified?

Answer 25

What toxin

Question 26

If the specimen is being evaluated for toxicants quantitatively, what is being identified?

Answer 26

What amount

Question 27

True or False: All specimens will be evaluated for toxicants both qualitatively and quantitatively

Answer 27

True

Question 28

True or False: All specimens should be representing, avoiding dilution, and putrefaction. However, small amounts of contamination are acceptable

Answer 28

False, no contamination is acceptable

Question 29

True or False: Specimens should be taken free of chemical contamination or debris

Answer 29

True

Question 30

True or False: Specimens should be washed using a mild detergent

Answer 30

False: Specimens should not be washed

Question 31

True or False: Animal and tissue specimens should be refrigerated

Answer 31

False: Animal and tissue specimens should be frozen

Question 32

True or False: Blood samples should be frozen while other body fluids should be refrigerated

Answer 32

False: Blood samples should be refrigerated while other body fluids should be frozen

Question 33

True or False: The organs should be sealed in a single airtight container

Answer 33

False: Packaging specimens from different organs separately

Question 34

True or False: Only glass containers that can be sealed tightly should be used

Answer 34

False: Clean glass or plastic containers that can be tightly sealed should be used

Question 35

All specimens should be labeled using waterproof ink and should include what on the label?

Answer 35

- owner’s name | - animal name or number and tissue of specimens

Question 36

True or False: Preservatives must not be added to specimens unless indicated as in case of histopathological examination and this has to be mentioned on the label

Answer 36

True

Question 37

True or False: If you put the tubes with blood in an oblique position you obtain more serum by increasing the surface area

Answer 37

True

Question 38

True or False: Vials and tubes have to be tightly sealed and labeled, then frozen and transported on ice

Answer 38

True

Question 39

What length should forages be cut to when sampling feed?

Answer 39

3 inches

Question 40

What should sample size be when submitting feed for sampling?

Answer 40

Quart or Kilogram

Question 41

True or False: Green forage or silage should be frozen, or green forage dried

Answer 41

True

Question 42

True or False: Variety of sampling when testing hay bales is not important

Answer 42

False: Samples should be taken from different bales and from different parts of the bale

Question 43

True or False: Samples should be packaged tightly and sealed airtight in plastic bags

Answer 43

True

Question 44

True or False: All letters and instructions should be placed directly inside the airtight plastic bags

Answer 44

False: All letters and instructions should be sealed in a first class mail envelope attached to the mailing container

Question 45

True or False: Liquids such as blood and other liquids should be shipped in glass or heavy plastic containers that can be tightly sealed

Answer 45

True

Question 46

True or False: Tissue specimens should only be transported in ziploc plastic bags

Answer 46

False: Tissue specimens can be transported in ziploc plastic bags, glass or plastic containers

Question 47

True or False: Samples should be wrapped individually for mailing

Answer 47

True

Question 48

True or False: Items must be transported in a climate controlled cooler

Answer 48

False: Plastic bags, cardboard and coolers are used for | transporting

Question 49

What is the proper protocol for sealing of packages for legal or insurance purposes (according to FBI, 1976)

Answer 49

- Pack bulk evidence secruely in a box - Seal box and mark as "evidence" - Place copy of transmittal letter in envelope and mark "invoice" - Stick envelope to outside of sealed box - Wrap sealed box in outside wrapper and seal with gummed paper and address directly to laboratory (Note attention to a specific person if this is possible)

Question 50

Where do you find the shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens?

Answer 50

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)