OFA Cerebellar Ataxia Database
January 14th, 2009OFA Cerebellar Ataxia Database
We are setting up an OFA database to record results of the American Staffordshire Terrier NCL-A Cerebellar Ataxia test. Eddie Dziuk, Chief Operating Officer of OFA has extended a courtesy to the Am Staff community to encourage registration in this new database. He has agreed to waive the recording fee for for a 6 month period for those dogs who have an existing OFA record (hips, cardiac, thyroid, elbows, etc.) This fee will be waived on eligible dogs until June 30th, 2009. If you are registering an affected dog, this does not apply. There is never a fee for registering an affected dog.
To record your dog’s test results with OFA, go to the OFA website, click on “OFA Applications”, then click on “DNA Based Genetic Disease application”. Print out the application and mail to OFA with a copy of your dogs’s certificate. OFA will record your test results and issue you an OFA certificate and number.
We are in the process of setting up an arrangement with Optigen where you may choose the option to automatically have the results of your test sent to OFA. The discount fee will be $7.50 if you register this way. If you choose to receive the test results first and register with OFA on your own, the fee is $15.00. You would need to print out the application from the OFA website and send it in with the fee and a copy of your dog’s certificate.
At this time, the automatic registration system with Optigen is not in place, so if you want to record your dog’s results, you must mail them in to OFA with the application. We do expect that the application system will be adjusted shortly, however, their system will not accomodate the waiver of the fee that OFA is giving us until June 30th. If your dog is eligible for a free OFA recording, you must mail in the application with the dog’s certificate. After June 30th, the normal fee schedule will be in effect.
I would like to thank Eddie Dziuk for extending this courtesy to us, and I hope that everyone will take advantage of this database as a good resource for sharing valuable information which is vital for the future of our breed.
Faith Beiser
STCA Health Committee
