FAQs / Questions & Answers

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About Mars Veterinary™, Mars, Incorporated and the WALTHAM®

Who is Mars Veterinary?

Mars Veterinary is a new division of Mars, Incorporated, a company known for innovative consumer and pet food brands that are trusted by people around the world.

Mars Veterinary has developed a sophisticated genetic test that will help pet owners, veterinarians and care providers identify the breeds present in their mixed-breed dog. Mars Veterinary is reaching new frontiers in canine genomic science, discovering important genetic markers that will help to identify breed mixes and determinants of physical and behavioral traits. These major scientific advances will allow veterinarians and owners to care for dogs with unprecedented Wisdom.

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Why is Mars, Incorporated involved in canine genetics?

Mars, Incorporated, a company known for innovative consumer and pet food brands that are trusted by people around the world, has been deeply involved with canine genetics for many years. As one of the largest pet food manufacturers in the world, Mars, Incorporated has consistently provided innovation in products that meet the needs of pets and owners.

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When was WISDOM Panel™ MX test launched?

WISDOM Panel MX launched in September of 2007. It is available for purchase through veterinarian and hospital clinics, pet retailers and online at www.wisdompanel.com/buy.

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What is the relationship between Mars, Mars Veterinary™ and WALTHAM®?

Mars Veterinary draws on work carried out at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, The World’s Leading Authority on Pet Care and Nutrition, as well as the expertise of respected veterinarians, universities and breed organizations throughout the world.

Located in rural Leicestershire, England, the renowned Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition has been a leading scientific authority in pet nutrition and well-being, advancing the frontiers of humane scientific research into the nutrition and healthy longevity of companion animals for over 30 years.

Their state-of-the art research program focuses on the nutritional and behavioral needs of companion animals and develops products which meet these needs in a practical way. It is Waltham that provides the science behind world-leading Mars pet care companies. Waltham has a leading reputation among pet owners, breeders, veterinarians and academics alike.

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How WISDOM Panel™ MX Works

What is WISDOM Panel™ MX?

Every dog has a tale. One test reveals the story of its ancestry. Available through veterinary clinics, pet retailers and online at www.wisdompanel.com/buy, WISDOM Panel MX is the gold standard in mixed-breed genetic identification in dogs. Separate Fact from Fiction. WISDOM Panel MX:

Identifies 157 different breeds that may be present in a mixed-breed dog
Uses blood-based sampling, ensuring the highest quality DNA analysis
Is backed by a decade of peer-reviewed research
Determines breed composition with 90% accuracy*
Illustrates a dog's heritage, revealing breed traits and characteristics

One simple test tells a mixed-breed dog's untold story and allows owners to work with their vets to develop optimal care based on specific breed mixes. Veterinarians are key to interpreting the results and helping owners make the most out of this breed knowledge.

*Validation testing has resulted in an average accuracy of 90% in first generation cross-bred dogs of known parentage. WISDOM Panel™ MX is not intended to predict disease or behavior in any particular dog. Accuracy was determined by average positive predictive value across breeds studied.

What does the “MX” stand for in WISDOM Panel™ MX?

The MX in WISDOM Panel™ MX stands for “Mix.”

How does the WISDOM Panel™ MX test work and what information will it provide to my patients?

Wisdom Panel MX requires a small blood sample (blood ensures the highest quality DNA analysis) that can be part of a routine veterinary visit – such as a new puppy’s first visit or an adult dog’s annual vaccination. Just 2 to 3 weeks following the test submission, Mars Veterinary will provide owners and veterinarians a detailed report illustrating the dog’s heritage. This report documents the breeds detected, offers breed-based behavioral profiles and provides insight about breed-driven physical attributes. The test results present an opportunity for owners and veterinarians to work together to develop appropriate care and well-being plans targeted to their mixed-breed dogs.

How accurate is the test?

Wisdom Panel™ MX is used to help determine the breed makeup of a dog. Validation testing has resulted in an average accuracy of 90% in first generation cross-bred dogs of known parentage. Accuracy was determined by average positive predictive value across breeds studied

How does this information help me and my dog?

Information from Wisdom Panel™ MX mixed-breed analysis will help owners better understand their dog’s breed makeup. The test results present an opportunity for owners and veterinarians to work together to create care plans specifically tailored to the unique needs of individual pets.

Can the test be used to identify health issues or disease predispositions?

Wisdom Panel™ MX is used to help determine the breed makeup of a mixed-breed dog – it is not designed to determine which disease traits – if any – might be present in a dog. The real value in the test is that with knowledge of a dog’s breed mix, such as physical and behavioral traits, owners can work together with their veterinarians to develop a more targeted care plan for their dog. This one-time investment helps owners feel confident they are providing their dog with the best care possible.

How do the science, approach and usefulness of the WISDOM Panel™ MX differ from other mixed breed dog tests?

WISDOM Panel MX has several distinguishing characteristics that set it apart from other mixed-breed identification tests on the market.

WISDOM Panel MX has the most comprehensive breed database, capable of detecting the presence of 157 different breeds in a mixed-breed dog.
WISDOM Panel MX is the only mixed-breed identification test that uses a blood-based DNA sample, scientifically proven to provide the highest quality DNA sample for analysis.
As the only test publishing accuracy, WISDOM Panel MX uses a proprietary algorithm that provides 90% accuracy* among mixed-breed dogs tested.
WISDOM Panel MX is backed by a decade of peer-reviewed research by scientists at the internationally respected WALTHAM® Center for Pet Nutrition in the United Kingdom.
WISDOM Panel MX is the only test administered and backed by over 4,000 veterinarians nationwide, who can work with dog owners to develop optimal care plans for their dogs based on specific breed mixes, helping them get the most out of their newly found breed knowledge.
The only test providing a detailed report that illustrates a dog's heritage and reveals breed history, as well as physical and behavioral traits.

Why use a blood sample rather than a cheek swab (buccal smear) sample? Cheek sounds like it would be easier. What is recommended?

Although cheek swabs seem quick and simple, only blood samples are scientifically proven to be the "gold standard" in DNA analysis because 95%* of the time, they can reliably provide large amounts of high quality DNA to analyze. Alternatively, according to some published studies, cheek swab derived DNA samples only have a 25-40%* success rate.

*Hansen TV, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16:2072-2076, Swanson SM, et al. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol.

Is it possible to get different results from WISDOM Panel™ MX and other mixed-breed identification tests?

We are often asked if it is possible to get different results on the same dog depending on which company performs the DNA analysis. The answer is yes, it is possible. But we're confident that WISDOM Panel MX will provide you the most accurate results! When it comes to learning about your dog's ancestry, WISDOM Panel MX is the gold standard. To help you understand why, let's take a moment to understand how genetic testing is done.

Each company that does mixed-breed canine identification uses several components to get to their results:

1 – Genetic markers: These are the places of variation in a dog's genetic structure. By studying both the similarities and differences in these markers among different breeds, we are able to determine characteristic signatures. WISDOM Panel MX has completed over 19 million genetic marker analyses and has typed over 13,000 dogs during test development. This is important because careful studies are needed in order to properly find the places of variation that makes each breed unique.
2 – Numbers and types of dogs: This is the database used to compare your dog's DNA against other breeds. The more breeds, the better the test. WISDOM Panel MX tests for 157 different breeds, more than any other test on the market.
3 – Validation testing for accuracy: Includes repeated testing of a dog sample and review by independent third party specialists, geneticists, and leading authorities on canine genetics. In each stage of testing your dog's DNA, WISDOM Panel MX is run in a USDA accredited laboratory to ensure proper quality control.
4 – Sample collection: DNA samples need to be collected for your dog's analysis. Although check swabs tend to be quick and easy to do, only blood samples are scientifically proven to be the "gold standard" in DNA analysis because 95%* of the time, they can reliably provide large amounts of high quality DNA to analyze. Alternatively, according to some published studies, cheek swab derived DNA samples only have a 25-40%* success rate.

All these factors can contribute to different tests giving different results - and make it likely in some cases that they will - particularly in very mixed dogs that may have fragments matching many different breeds in their genetic background.

The good news is that Mars Veterinary understands the role all of these factors play in determining a mixed-breed dog's genetic ancestry, has confidence that WISDOM Panel™ MX outperforms all other products on the market. We demonstrate that confidence with our complete transparency with what our test offers. None of our competitors give a full scope of how their products are validated. See for yourself:

Test	Number of Markers	Breeds Detected	Accuracy	Method of Testing
WISDOM Panel™ MX	321	157	*90% in mixed-breed dogs**	Blood Draw
Competitor A	Not Disclosed	105	Not Advertised	Cheek Swab
Competitor B	Not Disclosed	67	Not Advertised	Cheek Swab
Competitor C	Not Disclosed	Not Advertised	Not Advertised	Cheek Swab

One more note…it's misleading to claim 100% accuracy in determining purebred dogs using a mixed-breed test because the samples being used are not the same. WISDOM Panel MX is hands down the most sophisticated, most comprehensive, most accurate test available!

Scientifically, how did we get to the point to where we can identify the breed makeup of mixed-breed dogs?

WISDOM Panel™ MX is the result of years of extensive research and draws on the expertise of scientists at the internationally respected WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition in the United Kingdom, along with leading veterinarians, universities and breed organizations throughout the world.

Mars Veterinary has completed over 19 million genetic marker analyses and has typed over 13,000 dogs during test development. As a result, WISDOM Panel MX test is able to identify 157 different breeds that may be present in mixed-breed dogs, more than any other test available, with 90% accuracy* among mixed-breed dogs.

How can I get more information about the mixed-breed analysis test?

If you provide your mailing address or e-mail address, Mars Veterinary will be sure to provide you with follow-up information. We're also happy to follow up with a phone call to provide you with additional information. Also, you can register for E-mail updates on www.wisdompanel.com.

Any plans to test cats?

Mars Veterinary is interested in continuing to lead the field of animal genomics. There is still a lot more to learn about canines. Some exciting developments are in the works in this field first. Recognizing how important cats are to their owners, and how complex their breed histories can be, we hope that our understanding of genomics will allow us to explore this area in the future.

The results are reported in a funnel with the categories "Significant Breed," "Intermediate Breed," and "Minor Breed." What do these represent? Percentages of certainty? How are these levels determined?

We have tried to present our results in a format that customers will understand and to provide a guide as to which breeds will most likely provide the most significant genetic influence to the dog and, therefore, it's possible physical appearance and behavior. The stronger the breed signal detected, the greater proportion of a genome has been inherited, so the more likely it is that traits from that breed will be seen. However, we must avoid absolute certainties as it is possible that a breed present in significant amounts might have subtle visible affects on the dog's phenotypic (genes that control appearance) traits due to the unique combinations with genes from other breeds present in the mix.

Our computer algorithm's raw data output actually provides a complex numerical score for each breed detected (how good the match to the breed was at each marker) and a prediction of the relative amount of each breed detected. We use this information to populate the levels of detection and breeds detected on our current report. We are constantly receiving feedback from our customers and looking for ways in which we can improve the communication of results to our customers.

The categories listed in the funnel of a dog's report can be interpreted the following way:

Significant Breed - At least 50% of your dog’s DNA comes from this breed, so you are likely to see some physical and behavioral traits from this breed represented unless some of the genes are recessive.
Intermediate Breed - At least 25% of your dog’s DNA comes from this breed, so you may see some physical and behavioral traits represented in your dog.
Minor Breed - At least 12.5% of your dog’s DNA comes from this breed, so it is unlikely that this breed’s physical traits are visually represented unless some of the genes are dominant.

How do I interpret a dog’s results?

When reading your report, keep in mind that all physical traits of the breeds found may not always be apparent in your dog. Why? Because a mixed-breed dog’s appearance varies depending on the overall mix of breeds found. When dominant and recessive genes combine from the different breeds across the generations, unique and unpredictable combinations can occur. This is a big reason why your dog may not exhibit the physical traits of each breed we found.

The categories listed in the funnel of a dog's report can be interpreted the following way:

Significant Breed - At least 50% of your dog’s DNA comes from this breed, so you are likely to see some physical and behavioral traits from this breed represented unless some of the genes are recessive.
Intermediate Breed - At least 25% of your dog’s DNA comes from this breed, so you may see some physical and behavioral traits represented in your dog.
Minor Breed - At least 12.5% of your dog’s DNA comes from this breed, so it is unlikely that this breed’s physical traits are visually represented unless some of the genes are dominant.

Science Based Questions

Is the breed detection analysis at all similar to the kind of DNA analysis people can undergo to find out their deep ancestry? Does mitochondrial DNA or Y-chromosome DNA come into play in the analysis? If so, how? If not, then how are the 321 genetic markers determined?

WISDOM Panel™ MX has some technological similarities to the DNA analysis that people use to determine their deep ancestry but there are major differences in what the different analyses are looking for. WISDOM Panel™ MX is designed to detect the presence of purebred dogs in the most recent ancestry of a mixed-breed dog (ideally the Great Grandparent, Grandparent or Parental level), whereas most human ancestry tests are designed to detect the proportion of the tested individual that comes from historical racial or defined population groups.

WISDOM Panel™ MX only uses what are called autosomal DNA markers, chromosomes that contain most of the genetic instructions for every canine's body make up (height, weight, size etc.). There are no markers from either the so-called sex chromosomes (the canine X or Y chromosomes). Mitochondrial DNA, or Y-chromosome DNA testing, is rather different as these parts of the genome are passed on intact from mother to daughter and father to son respectively, but are therefore only representative of either the female or the male lineage. Autosomal DNA is inherited both from the maternal and paternal lineages equally and constantly shuffled by a process called recombination at each successive generation, and therefore is able to give useful information on the breeds found on both sides of a dog's lineage.

To find the genetic markers that performed best at distinguishing between breeds, Mars Veterinary tested over 4,600 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms or genetic markers, where genetic variation has been found between different dogs), from positions across the whole canine Autosomal genome from over 3,200 dogs. To further refine the search, Mars Veterinary determined the best 1,536 genetic variations and ran them against an additional 4,400 dogs from a wide range of breeds. This stage of testing resulted in the selection of the final panel of DNA markers that performed best at distinguishing between breeds, ultimately creating the WISDOM Panel genetic database.

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Do breed signatures differ from commonly understood notions of recessive and dominant genes? That is, it seems that the presence of a breed signature doesn't necessarily imply a physical appearance?

Physical appearance (predominantly determined by genes that influence the development of canine size and body mass, coat length, type and color, skull shape, leg length, ear and tail types), are known to be controlled by a very small number of genes relative to the number of genes contained in the canine genome (~20,000 or so in total). These genes can have both recessive and dominant variants and the variant that is present determines the visible effect on physical traits seen.

The presence of breed signatures does not guarantee that the dog will look like all detected breeds – the wonder of genetic inheritance and can be seen as much in people as in dogs.

The WISDOM Panel™ MX breed signatures are defined by markers that are consistent with the presence of a particular breed in the background of a tested dog, but were not chosen to specifically cover the genes responsible for specific trait determination from those breeds – many parts of the genome are likely to be unobservable with regard to trait determination. This can happen for any number of trait-determining genes. Therefore, a mixed-breed dog could be a mix of three or four breeds but have few traits evident from one or more of these breeds. There are two good examples of how this can happen. The first is eye color in humans. Brown is dominant over blue and green, and yet, a brown-eyed mother can have a green-eyed son if the dominant brown eye color variant is not passed on. The second, and perhaps best, illustration of the surprising effects you may see when mixing breeds is to study some designer dogs (e.g puggles, cocker-poos, etc.), which are a custom combination of two different pure breeds. Often these dogs will look quite different to the founder breeds because they are a mixture of two very different sets of genetic backgrounds. Equally many dog breeds still contain a variety of genetic variants for specific trait genes, especially coat color, size and coat type. For example, there are many different forms of Schnauzers such as miniature, standard and giant, and there are many different coat colors and coat types found in the Dachshund breed such as wire-, smooth- and long-haired. Dogs can be many different colors and yet are still classified as the same breed.

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My dog looks nothing like the breeds detected in the WISDOM Panel™ MX analysis. Can you explain how this can happen?

Many parts of the canine genome are likely to be unobservable or hidden with regard to trait determination. This can happen for any number of trait-determining genes. Simply put, a mixed-breed dog could be a mix of 3 or 4 breeds but have few traits evident from one or more of these breeds.

There are two good examples of how this can happen. The first is eye color in humans. Brown is dominant over blue and green, and yet, a brown-eyed mother can have a green-eyed son if the dominant brown eye color variant is not passed on. The second, and perhaps best, illustration of the surprising effects you may see when mixing breeds is to study some designer dogs (e.g puggles, cocker-poos, etc.), which are a custom combination of two different pure breeds. Often these dogs will look quite different to the founder breeds because they are a mixture of two very different sets of genetic backgrounds. Equally many dog breeds still contain a variety of genetic variants for specific trait genes, especially coat color, size and coat type. For example, there are many different forms of Schnauzers such as miniature, standard and giant, and there are many different coat colors and coat types found in the Dachshund breed such as wire-, smooth- and long-haired. Dogs can be many different colors and yet are still classified as the same breed.

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Your Web site says that breed signatures are extremely similar and can be hard to differentiate. Who/what makes the final decision as to which breed is reported? Computer? Human? Combination?

All breed determinations are made solely by our proprietary computer algorithm. With each tested dog's DNA, more than 7 million repetitive comparisons are made using a complex statistical algorithm. The algorithm scans the 321 genetic markers collected and looks for matches to breed signatures. The algorithm provides a marker by marker certainty score for each breed match. The computer selects the single best combination of breeds and relative amounts of breeds detected that best match the tested DNA sample from this comparison with our extensive database of purebred AKC dog breed signatures.

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Many American Kennel Club (AKC) breeds are derived from other, older breeds. Would the WISDOM Panel™ MX sometimes mistakenly detect some of the originating breeds instead of the newer AKC recognized breed?

Some breeds are relatively new, created from mixing other breeds together. When this happens, some ancestral similarities may remain in certain chromosomal regions, making it possible to have breeds that have been combined in crosses to ultimately form a new breed could potentially be detected as matches at certain markers that our test uses. If this occurs, this would most likely be reported as trace amounts of the ancestrally related breeds.

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Of the American Kennel Club (AKC) breeds not currently being identified and some other breeds not recognized by the AKC (such as pit bull), would the test identify that the dog has a significant amount of an undetermined breed or would it just not say anything at all?

Our test is designed to find the best matches to the 157 breeds in our database. Occasionally it is possible that no strong breed matches will be made. In this case, no breeds would be reported, which may happen if no breeds are present in the lineage of the dog that the WISDOM Panel™ MX can detect. In terms of breeds not covered by the WISDOM Panel MX test, the results will depend upon the genetic relatedness of the tested dog to the breeds available in our database. For example, a Llewellyn Setter (closely related genetically to the English Setter but not covered by our test) might result in a report that contains some amount of English setter.

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Certain breeds in the U.S. have their ears cropped, their tails docked and their claws removed. Although this is a breed standard, why do your test results not show the phenotype (genes that control appearance) of these dog's traits, as well as these imposed standards, to help owners better understand the make-up of their pet?

Mars Veterinary follows the guidelines of the American Kennel Club (AKC) in its breed identification. As such, the AKC recognizes that ear cropping, tail docking, and dewclaw removal, as described in certain breed standards, are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health. This is why we have chosen to represent dogs in this way in our test results report. We recognize that dogs have many differentiating features. Our intent is to capture the most readily recognized and widely understood attributes in our results reporting. We encourage pet owners to submit photos of their dogs to our online gallery showing the interesting variations to the standard. You can find the full list of dogs that are cropped, docked or declawed on the AKC website, www.akc.org.

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Tough Questions

Why would anyone want to pay for the mixed-breed test?

Every dog has a tale and WISDOM Panel™ MX reveals the story of its ancestry. A mixed-breed identification test for dogs helps reveal the breed composition, a story that has been left untold until now. Finding out a dog's breed makeup does more than just satisfy curiosity. With knowledge of a dog's breed mix, owners can work together with their veterinarians to develop a more targeted care plan for their dog and this one-time investment helps owners feel confident they are providing their dog with the best care possible.

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Will WISDOM Panel™ MX mixed-breed analysis test for purebred dogs?

No. Mars Veterinary's current focus is the development of a state-of-the-art mixed-breed genetic identification test for dogs. Mars Veterinary has completed over 19 million genetic marker analyses and has typed over 13,000 dogs from the American Kennel Club (AKC) registered purebred dogs as well as mixed-breed dogs. This process gave Mars Veterinary the ability to distinguish between a purebred and a mixed-breed dog as well as the capability of identifying breeds present within a mixed-breed dog.

However, in order to identify a dog as an official or registered purebred, the DNA collection, analysis and development of the test would be much different. A purebred is defined as a canine that is bred from members of a specific or registered breed over many generations. Validation of purebreds and what constitutes a purebred is a job for kennel clubs such as the American Kennel Club (AKC).

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Why can't this test detect purebreds? Is Mars Veterinary worried about lawsuits?

The WISDOM Panel™ MX test was designed to determine the breed makeup of mixed-breed dogs. Its development involved the analyses of more than 19 million DNA markers from more than 13,000 purebred and mixed-breed dogs to best tell breeds in a mixed-breed dog apart.

In order to determine if a dog is a purebred, Mars Veterinary would ideally need DNA samples that cover all family lines for each breed of purebred dog. But since their focus was the development of a test capable of accurately determining the breeds in a mixed-breed dog, they did not focus on collecting such a catalogue of purebred dog DNA samples.

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Can this test be used by regulatory/animal control officials to determine whether breeds are legislated or banned in a particular community?

The WISDOM Panel™ MX is designed and intended to be used solely to identify the genetic history of a mixed-breed dog and no other purpose is authorized or permitted.

The WISDOM Panel™ MX is not intended to predict behavior in any particular dog. Each dog is unique and its physical and behavioral traits will be the result of multiple factors, including: genetics, training, handling and environment.

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Can shelters use this test to determine which dogs may be the least "adoptable", thereby putting certain dogs more at risk for euthanasia?

The WISDOM Panel™ MX is designed and intended to be used solely to identify the genetic history of a mixed-breed dog and no other purpose is authorized or permitted.

The WISDOM Panel™ MX is not intended to predict behavior in any particular dog. Each dog is unique and its physical and behavioral traits will be the result of multiple factors, including: genetics, training, handling and environment.

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I've heard some rumors that the test results are not accurate. Is this true?

No, in fact, WISDOM Panel™ MX is the most accurate test available for mixed-breed identification. Validation testing has resulted in an average accuracy* of 90% in first generation cross-bred dogs of known parentage. WISDOM Panel MX is not intended to predict disease or behavior in any particular dog.

*Accuracy was determined by average positive predictive value across breeds studied

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Have you tested the same dog more than once to see if results are the same? If so, do the results come back the same each time?

We have tested some dogs more than once. Our quality control work demonstrates that on each of the 321 genetic markers analyzed with WISDOM Panel, average repeatability is over 99%. Due to subtle differences between run variations in the number of markers that are returned from our laboratory, there may occasionally be minor variation in the results reported, particularly at the trace amount level, though most breeds will be detected in common between repeat runs of the same sample.

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Genetic Testing and Price Structure
Exactly how does canine genetic testing work?
Developed through extensive genomic research, the WISDOM Panel™ MX is the "gold standard" in mixed-breed genetic identification for dogs. There are four major stages in the WISDOM Panel MX state-of-the-art genetic analysis:
1. DNA extraction. During this stage, DNA is isolated from the blood sample drawn by a veterinarian. Using highly sophisticated laboratory equipment, the DNA is extracted and separated into 13 separate portions for further analysis.
2. SNP identification. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are slight variations in DNA makeup. With each DNA analysis, the WISDOM Panel MX examines 321 points where SNPs (variations) are commonly found.
3. Database comparison. The key to distinguishing between breeds is to form breed-specific patterns by finding the SNP variants that are similar within dogs from a particular breed but vary among dogs from other breeds. For example, the characteristic SNP patterns found in a German Shepherd will differ from the SNP patterns found in an Irish Terrier. The combination of SNPs from each tested dog's DNA is compared with breed signatures in Mars Veterinary's proprietary genetic database, assembled from DNA analysis of over 8,700 purebred dogs.
4. Algorithm Assessment. With each tested dog's DNA, more than 7 million repetitive comparisons are made using a complex statistical algorithm. The algorithm scans 321 SNP markers collected and looks for matches to breed signatures. The algorithm provides a marker by marker certainty score for each breed match. The strength and frequency of matches are used to determine which breeds are present in a mixed-breed dog.
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Why are genetic tests more expensive than other exams performed by my veterinarian?

Similar to human DNA analysis, the price of a genetic test is typically more expensive than other forms of lab work. Why? There are many factors that determine the cost structure of genetic testing including: the number of genetic markers used for the analysis, the cost of labor involved with the DNA extraction process as well as the royalty fees the tester is required to pay with each test performed.

Compared to your veterinarian's routine lab work, genetic tests are extremely labor intensive, require highly sophisticated equipment and multiple levels of review by lab technicians. Also, with each blood sample, DNA must be extracted, a unique process not performed with more common laboratory work.

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How did Mars Veterinary determine the retail cost for the WISDOM Panel™ MX Mixed Breed Analysis?

As the only blood-based canine genomic test on the market, WISDOM Panel™ MX is the "gold standard" in mixed-breed identification for dogs. The price of the WISDOM Panel MX test is based on the following criteria: utilizing state-of-the-art laboratories, sophisticated DNA extraction equipment and the proprietary computer algorithm enabling detection of breeds at the great-grandparent level. The WISDOM Panel MX detects 157 different breeds that may be present in mixed-breed dogs, uses 321 DNA markers to identify breed history, draws on information from over 25,000 canine DNA samples and utilizes a library of 8,700 purebred dog signatures to detect a dog's lineage.

In addition, Mars Veterinary research involves leading canine genomic scientists, veterinarians, universities and breed organizations throughout the world.

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What about less expensive genetic tests? Won't they provide the same information at a lower cost?
Not all canine genetic tests are created equal. As the "gold standard" in mixed-breed genetic identification for dogs, the most distinguishing characteristic of the WISDOM Panel™ MX test is the blood-based DNA analysis. For example, when doctors perform genetic tests on humans, they typically use blood rather than cheek swab DNA samples for both stability and purity. In studies, human DNA has been successfully analyzed in approximately 95 percent of blood samples versus 25 to 40 percent with mouth swab samples.* This principle holds true for canine genetic testing.

In addition to a blood-based analysis, there are many other factors that help determine the reliability and accuracy of a genetic test, including:
1. Stringent quality assurance throughout each stage of the testing process. Mars Veterinary independently audits all of its laboratories and our laboratory is USDA accredited in order to maintain the highest standard of genetic testing possible.
2. The number of breeds covered. With the largest breed library available, the WISDOM Panel MX can detect 157 different breeds and counting.
3. The quantity of samples collected during the initial research phase. The WISDOM Panel MX algorithm was developed using over 13,000 canine DNA samples and a library of 8,700 purebred dog signatures to detect a dog's lineage.
4. The amount of DNA markers used to identify the breeds present in a dog's genetic makeup. Using 321 DNA markers, the WISDOM Panel MX can provide breed detection back to the great-grandparent level in a dog's ancestry.
*Hansen TV, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16:2072-2076, Swanson SM, et al. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2007;17:635-646.

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FAQs / Questions & Answers

Don't See Your Question?

About Mars Veterinary™, Mars, Incorporated and the WALTHAM®

How WISDOM Panel™ MX Works

Science Based Questions

Tough Questions

Genetic Testing and Price Structure

About Mars Veterinary™, Mars, Incorporated and the WALTHAM®

How WISDOM Panel™ MX Works

Science Based Questions

Tough Questions

Genetic Testing and Price Structure