title: Comparison of various blood-typing methods for the feline AB blood group system.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stieger
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Palos
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Giger
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D005782:Gels