KeyScreen™ GI Parasite PCR Fecal Test for Dogs & Cats
Detects what others miss
What is KeyScreen™ GI Parasite PCR?
KeyScreen™ is a cutting-edge gastrointestinal (GI) parasite test that uses PCR to identify parasite genetic material in veterinary fecal samples from dogs and cats.
Why Molecular PCR Testing is Superior to Traditional Methods
Limitations of O&P and ELISA
Screening for GI parasites hasn’t changed much in decades. O&P (ova and parasites) and ELISA testing have strengths, but they also have inherent limitations such as relying on visual identification and requiring large sample sizes.
When there’s no guarantee that parasites (or their eggs) will be present even in an adequately sized sample, more precise screening methods like PCR testing help identify parasites effectively.
Precision of PCR Detection
KeyScreen uses real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), a sensitive molecular detection method, to identify and amplify genetic material from parasites. This includes microscopic parasite material, such as eggs and cells, the protective outer covering of worm species like tapeworms, and cells from different life stages of protozoa. KeyScreen then reports out which parasites have been found in the fecal sample, the parasite burden (low, medium, or high), and the presence of any co-infections — including 2.5x more co-infections than in-clinic fecal flotations alone.2
What Parasites Does KeyScreen Detect?
KeyScreen detects 20 intestinal parasites, benzimidazole resistance in hookworms, and determines the zoonotic potential of Giardia.
Hookworms
- Ancylostoma spp.
- A. caninum benzimidazole resistance marker
- Uncinaria stenocephala
Roundworms
- Toxocara spp.
- Toxocara canis
- Toxocara cati
- Toxascaris leonina
- Baylisascaris procyonis
Whipworms
- Trichuris vulpis
Giardia
- Giardia duodenalis
- Giardia zoonotic strains A & B marker
Coccidia
- Cystoisospora spp.
- Eimeria spp.
Tapeworms
- Dipylidium caninum
- Echinococcus multilocularis
- Echinococcus granulosus
- Taenia spp.
Additional Protozoa
- Neospora caninum
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Tritrichomonas blagburni
- Cryptosporidium canis
- Cryptosporidium felis
KeyScreen Sample Requirements & Turnaround Times
Fast, Comprehensive Screening; One Small Sample Size
Sample Size
0.15 grams feces
Can be stored for 10 days with refrigeration
Turnaround Time
24 hours for most customers. 48 hours or less for all customers.
U.S. Code
KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR: T991
Canada Code
KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR: CT991
Benefits for Your Practice & Patients
Regular parasite screening with KeyScreen helps keep your patients healthier in alignment with recommended screening guidelines and responsible treatment approaches.
The independent Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends testing for gastrointestinal parasites at least four times in the first year of life for puppies and kittens and at least two times per year in adult dogs and cats, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors.1 By using KeyScreen to inform treatment decisions — prescribing mindfully and not using medication when it’s not indicated — you’re actively participating in antimicrobial stewardship and upholding a commitment to One Health.
KeyScreen is helping veterinarians experience better health outcomes for their patients and pet owners.
KeyScreen Resources
KeyScreen FAQs for Clinicians
Is KeyScreen for sick patients or patients without clinical signs?
KeyScreen is perfect for all clinical presentations, including routine wellness screenings. Because many parasitic infections can cause non-specific clinical signs, or can be asymptomatic, PCR testing with KeyScreen is the best way to detect all genetic material from parasites that might be in a fecal sample — down to the molecular level.
What can KeyScreen tell me about zoonotic Giardia?
Giardia is the most common intestinal parasitic disease in the U.S., affecting more than one million people per year. Children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are at much higher risk for Giardia infection and have higher infection rates. Because some strains of Giardia have the potential to infect humans, it’s essential to know whether your patients have Giardia from these zoonotic assemblages (A/B), so you can determine the best course of treatment and inform clients about their human family’s level of risk.
Why is it important to know about the parasite down to the species name?
Knowing the exact parasite species present in a sample means you can make an informed decision about treatment. For example, most tapeworm infections can be visibly diagnosed due to the segments (proglottids) found in the fecal sample or around the patient’s perianal area.
KeyScreen rapidly helps you decipher if the infection is due to Dipylidium caninum, in which the intermediate hosts are flea/lice, or due to Taenia spp. from eating rabbit or ruminant tissues. These different tapeworms have unique life cycles, meaning you need to know the intermediate host (flea/lice, rabbit, ruminant, etc.) to address the infection and to treat properly.
How will using KeyScreen for parasite screening help me combat antimicrobial resistance?
As the most sensitive intestinal parasite screening panel in veterinary medicine, KeyScreen helps veterinarians to strengthen their commitment to One Health priorities — specifically, pharmacological stewardship and the responsible use of anthelmintic drugs — by delivering precise information about the type of infection present.
Do you have any pet owner-facing materials I can use to help educate my clients about the need for preventive parasite screening?
Great question! We have a special toolkit all about the importance of regular fecal screenings coming soon. Be sure to get in touch with your Antech rep or fill out the contact form to receive the toolkit as soon as it launches.
Real-World KeyScreen Stories
Otis’ Hookworm Story
After two rounds of unsuccessful treatment for a hookworm infection, KeyScreen detected the hookworm treatment-resistance marker that was stopping Otis from getting better.
Misha’s Giardia Story
When this rescued kitten returned to his veterinarian with severe diarrhea and other persistent symptoms, KeyScreen detected a potentially zoonotic strain of Giardia.
Understand parasite risk in your region. View CAPC parasite prevalence maps for dogs and cats.
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1“Parasite Testing and Protection Guided by Veterinarians”, CAPC, last modified April 24, 2025, https://capcvet.org/guidelines/general-guidelines/
2Leutenegger, C.M., Lozoya, C.E., Tereski, J. et al. Comparative study of a broad qPCR panel and centrifugal flotation for detection of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from dogs and cats in the United States. Parasites Vectors 16, 288 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05904-z