Frequently asked questions

SINO is a metabolomics blood test developed by LatusPet in collaboration with scientists at the University of Oxford. From a single blood sample, it analyses hundreds of chemical biomarkers - metabolites and lipids - to detect early signs of disease in cats and dogs, including cancer, before symptoms appear.

SINO is designed to detect patterns associated with a wide range of diseases - including cancer, cardiovascular disease, atopic dermatitis, metabolic health conditions, and many others - at the earliest possible stage. It is a screening tool, not a diagnostic for multiple diseases. When a risk is flagged, your vet will use targeted follow-up tests to identify the specific condition.

No. SINO is designed to complement your pet's existing veterinary care, not replace it. Think of it as an additional layer of screening - a deeper look at your pet's cellular health that sits alongside regular physical examinations and standard wellness blood work.

The earlier a disease is detected, the wider the range of treatment options available and the better the likely outcome for your pet. Many serious conditions, including cancer, are far more treatable when caught at an early stage. Pets are also very good at hiding illness, which means by the time symptoms appear, a disease may already be significantly advanced. SINO detects biochemical changes associated with disease before any symptoms develop.

SINO requires only a standard blood draw - the same procedure your vet performs for any routine blood test. A small sample (1ml) of whole blood is collected and sent to our certified laboratory for analysis. No sedation, no fasting, and no special preparation is needed.

SINO involves only a standard blood collection - no additional procedures, no sedation, and no fasting. Most pets tolerate routine blood draws very well. If your pet is particularly anxious about vet visits, discuss this with your vet, who may be able to use calming techniques or topical anaesthetic at the collection site.

We recommend annual SINO screening as part of your pet's routine wellness care - ideally timed with their regular yearly check-up. For older pets, or those with known health predispositions or a previous moderate or high risk result, your vet may recommend screening every 6 months.

No fasting is required for the SINO test. Your pet can eat and drink normally before their appointment.

Low risk: No significant biomarker abnormalities detected. Your vet will recommend continuing annual SINO screening.

Moderate risk: Some chemical indicator alterations have been detected. Your vet may recommend additional monitoring, follow-up diagnostics, or lifestyle adjustments.

High risk: Significant biomarker abnormalities are present. This is not a diagnosis - it is a signal for prompt further investigation, which your vet will guide you through.

As with all laboratory tests, SINO results are interpreted by your veterinarian, who will communicate the findings and recommended next steps to you. LatusPet provides a clear, structured report to support that conversation - but the clinical interpretation always rests with your vet.

As with any laboratory test, SINO results should always be considered alongside your pet's clinical signs, history, and your vet's examination. No diagnostic test is 100% accurate, and SINO is designed to be a screening tool - results are always discussed in the context of your pet's overall health picture.

Contact us via our enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch within 48 hours. We will arrange a call with our team to walk you through everything, answer your questions, and provide all the information and guidance needed to get started.

No specialist equipment is required. SINO uses standard blood collection - the same materials and procedure already in use in any veterinary practice. Samples are sent to our certified external laboratory for analysis.

No formal training is required - SINO integrates seamlessly into your existing workflow. We do provide an onboarding guide and are available for any questions. We also offer a clinical briefing session for your team on request.

SINO has been validated across a wide range of dog and cat breeds. If you have questions about a specific breed or health condition, speak to your vet - they can advise whether SINO is appropriate as part of your pet's wellness plan.

We generally recommend SINO screening from age 1 onwards as part of routine wellness care. Discuss with your vet to determine the right timing for your individual pet.

Yes - expanding SINO to additional species is a core part of our roadmap. We are actively researching and developing validation datasets for other animals. If you're a vet working with species you'd like to see covered, please get in touch - we'd love to hear from you.

Metabolomics refers to the analysis of hundreds of small molecules present in a biological sample - metabolites that reflect what is actually happening inside cells. Combined with lipidomics and other proprietary omics data, SINO builds a much more complete picture of your pet's cellular health than any single test can provide.

Metabolomics as a discipline is supported by a vast and growing body of peer-reviewed scientific literature, with extensive research published from the University of Oxford and institutions worldwide validating how it works in human medicine. LatusPet has also conducted its own clinical validation work in veterinary medicine. Our first publication, focused on dogs, is in preparation and will be shared here upon release:

[Title of paper - link to be added upon publication]
Further publications are in progress, including work covering additional disease areas and species. If you are a researcher or institution interested in collaborating, please reach out via our contact form - we welcome scientific partnerships.

SINO was developed and validated in active collaboration with practising veterinarians. Our validation process involved collecting blood samples from both healthy animals and those with confirmed diagnoses, allowing us to build and refine the biomarker reference database that SINO's algorithms draw on. This process is continuous - our database grows with every test.