Improving the Accuracy of IMHA Diagnosis
CHF Grant 02637-A: Reducing Misdiagnosis of Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
Publication: Sun, P. L., & Jeffery, U. (2020). Effect of dilution of canine blood samples on the specificity of saline agglutination tests for immune-mediated hemolysis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15945
What can we learn?
Slide agglutination tests (SATs) are widely recommended for diagnosis of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs, but high false positive rates have been reported. This could unnecessarily expose a patient to the risks of immunosuppressive therapy. Investigators demonstrated that SAT specificity improved at higher dilutions (specifically a 49:1 saline-to-blood ratio).
Conclusion:
Slide agglutination tests can achieve high specificity for the diagnosis of IMHA using a 49:1 saline-to-blood ratio. However, sensitivity at this dilution is limited, so a negative result in a dog with evidence of hemolysis merits further testing.
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
