PROFICIENCY TESTING OF SELECTED ANTIGEN AND ANTIBODY TESTS FOR USE INDOGS AND CATS

Objective-To determine the correlation of seroimmunologic test results between reference and nonreference laboratories. Design-Retrospective data analysis. Procedure-Serum samples obtained from naturally infect ed dogs and cats were distributed to reference and nonreference labora tories for seroimmunologic testing. Correlation of test results was ev aluated by use of nonparametric analysis. Results-Correlation coeffici ents were high between laboratory groups for samples tested for feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, FeLV antigen, and toxoplasmosis an tibodies in cats. Results for feline immunodeficiency virus antibody t ests from reference laboratories were more likely to be positive than results from nonreference laboratories. Test results for feline infect ious peritonitis antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and Borrelia anti bodies in cats were not significant. Coefficient correlations were sig nificant for results of heartworm antigen, Brucella antibodies, Toxopl asma antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and rheumatoid factor in dogs . Results for Borrelia antibodies were not correlated between laborato ry groups. Clinical implications-Results were highly correlated betwee n reference and nonreference laboratories for 8 of 14 seroimmunologic tests. Seroimmunologic tests for use in Cats were less correlated as a group than those for use in dogs. Poor correlation of results between laboratories was attributed to variations in control agents, antigens , reagents, technical expertise, and cutoff values and end-point titer s used for diagnosis.