Objective

To examine the accuracy of using body fluids macroscopically suspected to contain erythrocytes to determine the blood type in dogs and cats by use of an immunochromatographic cartridge, compared to peripheral blood as the reference standard.

Methods

Prospective study. Dogs and cats with a sanguineous or serosanguineous body fluid who also required a peripheral blood sample for a primary clinical purpose, were eligible for inclusion. Body fluids included mainly pleural, peritoneal and pericardial effusions. Naturally excreted body fluids were also considered for inclusion. Packed cell volume (PCV) and blood type were determined in all blood and fluid samples. For body fluids with a low PCV and discordant results compared to peripheral blood type, sample concentration and repeat blood typing from the fluid was considered.

Results

Thirty dogs and 8 cats were included. Body fluid samples consisted of 16 pleural (11 dogs; 5 cats), 12 peritoneal (10 dogs; 2 cats), 4 canine pericardial effusions, 3 canine urine samples alongside one each of canine faeces, epistaxis and feline seroma. Median manual blood PCV was 34% (14–66%) and fluid PCV was 6% (0.5–70%) for dogs and 28% (14–48%) and 14% (0.5–19%) for cats. Peripheral blood types for dogs were as follows: 14/30 DEA 1 negative, 9/30 DEA 1 positive and 7/30 DEA 1 weak positive. Dogs correctly classified as being DEA 1 negative, DEA 1 positive and DEA 1 weak positive when using body fluid to blood type were 13/14, 4/9 and 5/7 respectively. All blood type discordant results had a body fluid PCV below 2.5%. Concentrated body fluid samples had a PCV above 8% and repeat blood typing matched that of peripheral blood. All cats were classified as type A by all blood and body fluid samples.

Conclusions

Body fluids containing red blood cells may be utilised to blood type dogs and cats. Haemoconcentrating body fluids with low PCV increased the accuracy of canine blood type determination from body fluid when the initial fluid PCV was below 2.5%. All cats body fluid samples matched the peripheral blood type.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.