Our pets talk to us in their own ways, but unfortunately, we cannot rely on them to explain if they feel unwell. Veterinary personnel use multiple diagnostic methods to get the important health information a pet cannot say in words. What is a SNAP test? Rapid screenings like SNAP tests can be done in the hospital during your visit, so conversations about your pet’s health can be had immediately. The Animal Emergency Care team wants to help you understand the benefits and limitations of SNAP tests as a veterinary tool.
What is a SNAP® test?
A SNAP test is a combination of technology and process that yields results quickly and at relatively low expense. While SNAP seems like an acronym, IDEXX actually named it for the sound the cartridge makes as it “snaps” into the device. This device is a complex digital tool called the analyzer.
There are varieties of SNAP tests that yield simultaneous results for multiple diseases using a single sample. SNAP tests allow convenient rapid screening for several infectious diseases, including but not limited to:
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- Ehrlichiosis
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- Giardia
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- Heartworm
These are potentially fatal diseases, some of which can be cured and some of which can only be managed. Your pet (and pets they come in contact with) are safer the earlier they are diagnosed.
At the time of this article’s publication, Animal Emergency Care offers the following SNAP tests: SNAP Parvo, SNAP Lepto, SNAP Giardia, SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo, SNAP Feline proBNP (a cardiac screening for cats), and SNAP 4DX Plus (a screen for multiple vector-borne illnesses, including heartworm disease, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis).
How does the SNAP test rapid screening work?
First, the veterinary team will take a small blood or stool sample from your pet. The sample required depends on the type of test.
After adding a patient’s blood or fecal sample and a reagent to the test strip, the technician “snaps” the cartridge into the analyzer. The analyzer looks similar to a debit card reader at the grocery store. Instead of a card, it accepts a larger cartridge that houses a diagnostic test strip.
It typically takes only 8-10 minutes for results. This quick turnaround means you and you pet’s care team can discuss health issues during your visit, instead of waiting for results from an off-site lab.
When your pet has an infection, the bacteria, virus, or parasite will begin to shed proteins that betray its presence. These proteins are called antigens. Your pet’s immune system will react to the infection by creating another type of protein called antibodies. The analyzer identifies the infection by releasing chemicals which will react to specific antigens or antibodies if they are present in your pet’s blood or stool sample.
Limitations regarding SNAP test results
SNAP test results are highly accurate, but they require nuance and knowledge to interpret.
For instance, a SNAP test that is performed too soon after exposure may yield a false negative. False negatives most often occur when the foreign agent has not yet had enough time to generate target proteins at a high enough concentration for detection. In such cases, a pet may need to be retested after more time passes. Similarly, positive SNAP results for tickborne illness don’t necessarily indicate an active sickness. It only means the pet has been exposed. Your veterinarian will ask you for context that helps determine next steps. This could include monitoring your pet, additional tests, or beginning treatment.
At emergency veterinary hospitals like Animal Emergency Care, we almost exclusively see pets who are not only symptomatic, but whose symptoms require urgent care. Diagnostics like SNAP tests help a veterinarian determine likely causes for a patient’s symptoms and put together a plan to pursue appropriate treatment.
Outside of the emergency hospital, rapid screening tests like these are routinely used in preventative medicine, often as part of your pet’s yearly checkup with their family veterinarian.
SNAP tests for yearly screening
One of the strongest advantages to SNAP tests is the prospect of catching hidden illness before complications are severe.
Tick-borne diseases can cause clinical symptoms such as fever, joint pain, or lethargy—but patients sometimes fail to present signs at all. To avoid false negatives for tick-borne illness, consider scheduling a yearly test with your regular vet in late autumn or winter.
A dog with a heartworm infection might cough, have breathing problems, or lose weight, but your pet could suffer extensive damage from these parasites before they show any noticeable indication of infection. While some regions have higher rates of heartworm infection, dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm in every U.S. state.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are among the most common infections among cats. These pets can live longer, healthier lives if their infections are properly managed.
Paying for diagnostic tests
While a single SNAP test is not necessarily considered an expensive procedure, they are often just one small piece of a diagnostic and treatment plan for a pet who needs emergency medical care. To help alleviate the worry about paying for care so you can focus on your pet, Animal Emergency Care accepts pet insurance and offers our clients a number of financing options and payment plans. Never hesitate to reach out to our team to explore ways to get your animal the care they need. We’re here to help!
If your cat or dog is injured or experiencing an urgent health concern on a night, weekend, or holiday when your regular veterinarian is unavailable, contact Animal Emergency Care and bring your pet in for treatment. #AECprevents
Sources
https://www.idexx.co.uk/files/snap-ecosystem-brochure-2024-en-gb.pdf
https://kintekdetection.com/faqs/what-are-snap-tests-and-what-do-they-screen-for
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&Id=9494666
