Serology

For serology, at least 1.0 ml of serum is needed. Collect blood in red top vacutainers. Ten ml of blood can generate 3 to 5 ml serum. Allow the sample to clot for 30 to 60 minutes at room temperature. Release the clot using a sterile applicator stick, spin down and transfer to a sterile tube. If a centrifuge is not available, remove the clot and set aside the serum.

For serodiagnosis, paired serum samples are recommended. The first sample is collected at the onset of illness and the convalescent sample is collected 2 to 3 weeks later. Acute serum samples should be stored at -20C while waiting for the convalescent samples. 

Serology­Bacterial

• Brucella abortus/suis, plate or card test
• Brucella canis, plate agglutination, tube agglutination, agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's), AGID
• Leptospira
• Mycoplasma
• Plate agglutination test for either MG, MM, or MS
  • HI test for either MG, MM, or MS
  • ELISA for MG
  • PCR for MG
  • PCR for MG F­strain
• Tube agglutination for Salmonella pullorum, S. typhimurium, or S. enteritidis

Serology - viral

• Serum neutralization (SN),
• Hemagglutination - inhibition (HI) test,
• Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT),
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test.

SN and HI are the main tests used for serodiagnosis. SN, HI, IFAT, ELISA and AGID are used for virus antibody screening.

Serology­Fungal

• Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Coccidjoides, and Histoplasma, AGID
• Crypotococcus, latex agglutination