Hypotheses and Assumptions

Four more tests to go and Nad will have completed all the scheduled tests on unadulterated sample collected from Donor 3 on 8/19/12.       (Done.)

Then we will begin hydration testing.

That is telling us that 2 month old sample is still viable.

Which means that sample collected from one donor could have been used in the training of a seizure alert dog for 2 months.

And if, as Scott Smith, Tidewater K9s,  has found with hydrated blood glucose saliva sample, he is able to add an additional month of testing using hydration produced second generation sample, that adds an additional month of training opportunity with this single sample collection.

Dr Dana Sue Hardin, Eli Lilly researcher, is finding in her testing of saliva blood glucose sample, that her unadulterated sample appears viable up to 3 weeks before indicating a breakdown of scent or appearance of biological contamination.

Means of preservation is playing a huge role in longevity of sample.

And acquisition of donor sample continues to be the greatest challenge - for testing and, ultimately will be for training as well.

The Seizure Alert Project presently has two dogs in two locations testing sample from multiple donors.  Our minimum goal is to have sample from 3 different donors tested using the Testing Plan for Donor Sample before making hypotheses or assumptions.  We hope to have the opportunity to compare Multi Donor Sample following that Testing Plan.  The test for Viability Age will be ongoing.

But it is difficult to refrain from making premature assumptions as we watch these dogs work the scent wheel with such confidence and assurance.