AlpacaGram 13.35 | Color Coat Testing Update

Color Coat Testing Update

We want to give you a straightforward, honest update on color coat testing — where things stand, why the timeline has shifted, and what we are doing to move this forward.

The good news is real: our laboratory partner, DDC, is set up and fully capable of running color coat testing. The science is sound, the infrastructure is in place, and the program is not in question. In fact, DDC has already completed runs on both validation samples and paid samples, and those results are being collated and quality-checked now. What has created a delay is a practical, temporary challenge on the technology side. During this pilot, DDC identified that the manual processes currently in place do not meet their own high standards for accuracy and timeliness at scale. IT solutions need to be implemented before they can receive additional samples — and until that work is done, they are not accepting new submissions.

We understand this is frustrating. You've been patient, and we won't pretend the wait hasn't been longer than any of us anticipated. What we can tell you is that we are actively monitoring DDC's progress, we remain in close communication with their team, and we are confident in both the science and the partnership. We do not yet have a firm date to share — but we do have every intention of delivering this test, both as a standalone option and as part of a bundle with DNA testing.

We know some members may choose not to wait and will make their own decisions about where to send samples in the meantime. That is entirely understandable. What we ask is simply this: don't lose faith in what we are building. The AOA color coat test, when it launches, will be developed with the rigor, the industry knowledge, and the community investment that has always defined this organization. That value is worth holding on to.

Our commitment to you has not wavered. We are a community built on patience, care, and a love for these remarkable animals — and we will see this through. We will continue to communicate openly as developments unfold, and we will not go quiet on this.

Thank you for your continued trust in AOA. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out directly.