Comparison of various blood-typing methods for the feline AB blood group system.
OBJECTIVE
To compare feline blood-typing results determined by use of the card (CARD), gel (GEL), tube (TUBE), University of Pennsylvania (Penn) tube, and Penn slide tests.


METHODS
Blood samples from 38 healthy cats.


METHODS
Blood samples, anticoagulated with EDTA, were screened by use of each blood-typing method according to manufacturers' protocols.


RESULTS
On the basis of the standard Penn tube and slide test results, 20, 11, and 7 cats were classified as type A positive, type B positive, and type AB positive, respectively. The same results were obtained with the anti-B and anti-B reagents of the TUBE test. Use of anti-A antibodies of original polyclonal and current monoclonal CARD tests resulted in mostly 2+ to 3+ (scale, 0 to 4+) agglutination reactions with blood samples from type A-positive cats; agglutination reactions with blood samples from type AB-positive cats were weak (1+). The anti-B lectin of the CARD test induced a 2+ to 4+ reaction with blood from all type B- and type AB-positive cats. Use of the GEL test allowed recognition of type A and type B blood samples; following addition of anti-A serum to control columns, type B blood was differentiated from type AB blood.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of the in-practice CARD test allows identification of type A- and type B-positive cats, but weak reactions of type AB blood with the anti-A monoclonal antibody raise concerns. The modified GEL and TUBE tests appear to be reliable clinical laboratory methods for feline blood typing.
Stieger
Knut
K
Section of Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Palos
Hanna
H
Giger
Urs
U
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005782:Gels; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D005782:Gels