The EquiSal Tapeworm Test uses saliva (collected by yourself) to accurately diagnose tapeworm burden. It tells us if your horse has a burden and whether you need to deworm or not. Once you have taken the sample, you use the Freepost bag provided to return the sample to the lab. Equiplan incorporates the Equisal Test into the Annual Worming Programme, follow the link to find out more.
The absorbent end of the swab collects about 0.5 ml of saliva; when this amount has been collected the volume indicator in the swab turns pink.
It is equally important that your horse does not eat, drink or be exercised for at least 30 minutes before collecting the sample for EquiSal testing. This part of the sampling procedure is essential to obtain reliable results. We recommend tying the horse up in a position where they cannot reach any food (including small morsels of hay on the ground or salt licks). This could be a good opportunity to have a grooming session! If your horse is at grass, there is no need for a stable; tie them up at the gate or similar.
The Equisal website has some great frequently asked questions, which we have shown below:
My horse has eaten a small amount of food/hay/grass within the half-hour before the saliva collection. Will this be OK?
No, the horse must have eaten nothing at all. The test will not work if the horse produces too much saliva and will result in a required retest.
My horse is having dental treatment soon. Can I collect a sample at the same time?
No, if there is any presence of blood in the sample as a result of routine dental treatment, then this will affect the results.
I have finished collecting saliva, and the swab is covered with food bits/hay. Does this matter?
It is perfectly OK for the swab to have food debris on it; you may want to pick off any large bits. The presence of food/grass/hay does not affect the test results.
I have dropped the swab on the floor. What should I do?
Providing the swab is not dirty, you can continue your saliva collection, but please inform us of the incident on the delivery note. However, you must not wash the swab.
I have spilt the preservative solution from the saliva swab storage tube. What should I do? This is not ideal, but if you send the saliva swab back in the saliva swab storage tube, we will attempt to carry out the test. Do not add anything else to the saliva swab storage tube as this will result in an unreliable diagnosis.
I have collected my horse’s saliva but I cannot post it immediately. What should I do?
We recommend that you place the saliva swab (in its storage tube) in a cool place until you can post it to us.
The instructions say I must put a barcode label on the saliva swab storage tube. Why do I need to do this?
The barcode label is specific to each saliva sample and is used to track your horse’s saliva sample through the testing process. It is important to make sure the label is placed on with no wrinkles and not dirty. Remember to write the name of your horse on the saliva swab storage tube label.
The volume indicator is not changing colour?
Ensure that you are using the swab correctly by placing the foam, soft end in the horse’s mouth while holding on to the plastic handle.
The swab does not fit in the tube.
Don’t force the swab into the tube. Make sure the foamy, soft end is placed into the preservative solution first. The swab should fit easily into the tube in this way.
A rook has flown off with my swab. What should I do?
This has actually happened! Keep all shiny objects out of sight of rooks!
If you have any further questions, please contact the surgery to speak to a vet.
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