Antibody testing for patient response to core vaccines is a significantly underutilized resource in veterinary practice. The recent introduction of Point-of-Care Tests kits provides clinicians the opportunity to objectively assess the need for, and response to, core vaccines in both dogs (Distemper-Parvovirus-Adenovirus) and cats (Panleukopenia [with limited availability for herpesvirus and calicivirus])…and do so within minutes.

This presentation addresses the 3 most fundamental issues facing veterinarians regarding the decision to implement antibody testing in practice:

1) Are test results a valid indication of protective immunity?

2) What are the indications for testing individual patients? and…

3) How do test results (+ vs -) impact patient management decisions?

RACE Tracking #20-1358151

Learning Objectives:

• ETo understand the difference between qualitative and quantitative testing for circulating antibody.
• To understand the clinical significance of a “positive” antibody test result for the most common infectious diseases encountered in dogs/cats.
• To review a variety of test indications in veterinary medicine in (for example: juvenile patients, patients owned by ‘vaccine hesitant’ clientele; patients with a history of an adverse vaccine reaction/event); geriatric patients; pregnant patients; and etc.)
• To understand how test results directly impact patient management.
• To understand the significance of a “negative” antibody test result and how that impacts patient management.