Immunology

We offer a wide range of immunologic tests. These include the following:

  • Tests for evaluation of hyperproteinemias and immune deficiencies: This includes serum, body fluid and urine electrophoresis and individual quantification of immunoglobulins.
  • Tests for immune-mediated disease: This includes antinuclear antibodies (ANA) testing, rheumatoid factor (RF) testing, Coombs testing and crossmatch (for transfusion and diagnostic purposes, i.e. mare-foal or mare-stallion incompatibility).

For most of our immunologic tests, serum is the required specimen. This does not include Coombs testing and crossmatches, where EDTA blood is also required.

Click on the highlighted tests below to learn more about the individual tests that are offered.

Test Specimen Requirements Comments
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) 1 mL separated serum Dog, cat
Body fluid protein electrophoresis 2 to 3 ml fluid in red top tube 10 ml CSF minimum Specify fluid type. Notify the lab if the fluid is CSF (CSF must be concentrated first)
Cross Match 3 ml EDTA blood and 10 ml clotted blood or 5 ml serum. Call laboratory prior to collection. Submit blood from recipient & donors.
Direct Coombs 2 to 3 ml EDTA blood Dog, cat, horse
Immunoglobulins, QUANTITATIVE
(IgA, IgG, and IgM)
2 ml clotted blood, serum or plasma (EDTA/heparin) Dog (IgA, IgG, IgM),
Horse & Cow (IgG and IgG Colostrum)
Mare / Foal compatibility 3 ml EDTA and 5 ml clotted blood or 2 ml serum Submit blood from both mare & foal.
Mare / Stallion compatibility 3 ml EDTA and 5 ml clotted blood or 2 ml serum Submit blood from both mare and stallion. (Samples from mare should be as close as possible to foaling date).
Rheumatoid Factor 1 ml clotted blood or serum Dog ONLY.
Serum protein electrophoresis 2 ml clotted blood or serum
Urine protein electrophoresis 10 to 15 ml urine minimum Urine must be concentrated first