Use of serology in canine and feline dermatology. In: Veterinary Focus 18(1); 2008

Serology is based on the use of antibodies to detect circulating antibodies (immunoglobulin) or antigens. Largely used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, it is now often replaced by DNA or RNA detection of infectious agents by molecular biology techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR, rt-PCR). However, antibody detection can have some advantages on PCR techniques and numerous diagnostic evaluations use serological techniques especially for the diagnosis of immune-mediated diseases. Principle of serological techniques Numerous techniques are used (Table 1, Figure 1). The main home tests are based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatography (IC) (Figure 2) and laboratory techniques on indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), ELISA and agglutination (latex or RBC) (Figure 3).