Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells
Published on: January 29, 2014
Coombs', haemoplasma and retrovirus testing in feline anaemia
S Tasker1, J K Murray, T G Knowles
1School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
Objective:
To investigate the associations between Coombs' testing, haemoplasma and retroviral infections, and feline anaemia.
Methods:
Haematology, Coombs' testing (including assessment of persistent autoagglutination) and selected infection testing (haemoplasma, feline leukaemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus provirus) were performed in blood samples collected from 60 anaemic and 60 non-anaemic cats.
Results:
No association between infection and anaemia or Coombs' positivity existed. Anaemic cats (21.7%) were significantly more likely than non-anaemic cats (0%) to have cold autoagglutination (P<0.0001), but significance (set at
Clinical Significance:
Cats suspected of having immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia should be evaluated for persistent autoagglutination at 4 degrees C as well as performing Coombs' testing at 37 degrees C, but positive results may occur in with other forms of anaemia. Testing for erythrocyte-bound antibodies should always be interpreted in parallel with documentation of haemolysis in anaemic cats.
