Coming in 2008
Verified Permanent Identification (VPI)

The OFA’s policy regarding permanent identification is an extension of the AKC’s policy in that the AKC will only accept OFA numbers into their registry for inclusion on registration papers and pedigrees if the dog is permanently identified. While DNA profiles are able to uniquely identify individual dogs, it is also the AKC’s policy to limit permanent identification for health screening purposes to tattoo or microchip. The rationale is that DNA profiles are not immediately verifiable,they require a sample to be taken and subsequent laboratory analysis. The AKC’s premise is that tattoos are visually immediately verifiable, microchips are immediately verifiable using a scanner, and that the verification should be done at the time of testing.

Currently, the OFA will accept applications regardless of whether the dog has been tattooed or microchipped. Dogs with acceptable permanent ID are assigned a PI suffix to their OFA number, dogs without permanent identification are assigned a NOPI suffix.

In order to add a higher level of integrity to the OFA databases, the OFA Hip and Elbow application form has been modified to include an area for the attending veterinarian to indicate whether or not they verified the supplied permanent identification. The revised application form is currently available as a downloadable .pdf file from the OFA website. We will begin mailing printed versions later this year.

Beginning in 2008, the verification step must be performed in order for the data to be forwarded to the AKC for inclusion in their records. Dogs with the verification step done will have a suffix of VPI assigned to their OFA numbers.
Veterinarians are encouraged to make the verification part of their standard procedure for taking OFA hip and/or elbow films. Owners are encouraged to brief their vets on this policy change and when necessary proactively request that the verification step be performed.

Verification of Permanent Identification Form