You've got a result you weren't expecting, what should you do?

We see this from time to time, especially when a dog or breeding line is tested for the first time for a particular disorder, or a new disorder test has been released. 

You've got a carrier or an at risk result that you weren't expecting.

What should you do? 

Firstly, don't panic. If this is the first time your dog or lines have been tested for this disorder you wouldn't have known that you had carriers. This is especially true if a new test for a disorder has become available and many people are discovering this information at the same time. 

Secondly, are you absolutely sure that the sire is the sire? Parentage testing can help with this. We've all heard about it happening, the bitch is in season and unexpectly is covered by an unplanned sire. Or two sires and the litter is of mixed parentage. This can muddy the water when it comes to carrier and at risk results for health disorders but parentage testing can confirm whether the "clear" sire really is the sire of the dog who has been tested.

Thirdly, don't try to hide the result from your puppy buyers. No-one wants to be that breeder. Ultimately, testing is becoming so common now that you can't hide carriers in your lines. Your customers will test their new puppies at some point and you could end up with a sticky legal situation if you have been less than honest with them. Unfortunately, we do get many requests to "remove" test results from certificates or requests to have one test result per certificate. We do neither. Like most other genetic testing companies we put all the results on the same certificate for a reason: so that you and your potential customers get the full information. Ethically, it is the right thing to do. 

What shouldn't you do?

This might seem obvious but don't abuse the lab staff answering your queries. It is extraordinarily rare for a test result for a sample to be incorrect, given the testing process is automated with robotics at most labs but we do have a defined dispute procedure if you know the result is wrong (it's in the T&Cs).

Screaming your frustrations into an email might make you feel better but it is also unlikely to make the lab staff want to deal with you. At PGL we have a zero-tolerance policy on this. If you abuse our staff, even in writing, then we reserve the right not to deal with you further. Shouting doesn't help solve your problem and as my granny used to say: you catch more flies with honey.