Reading diagnostic test results can be confusing at best. Just a little bit of knowledge before reading the results will help reduce the anxiety over all the pluses and minuses. The results are normally emailed to the breeder as a multiple page PDF. The most important part of the report for the results is the serology chart similar to the one below.
Each agent tested will be shown on a line along with the results for that agent. The primary test conducted is an MFIA test. Each agent tested will be shown with a prefix of MFIA. First, at the end of the list of MFIA tests will be “MFIA Anti-Ig” with a result of “P.” This agent is actually a lab control that must pass to be valid results and isn’t applicable to the breeder. Results that are not a solid positive or negative will then have a twin IFA test. The IFA test is used to try to confirm or deny the results of the MFIA. Example: the equivocal MFIA results below has a corresponding IFA test result. In this case, the sample was confirmed for MPUL.
| Test Symbols | Definition |
|---|---|
| + | Positive; results produced a moderate or strong positive reaction. |
| – | Negative |
| +/- | Equivocal; results could not be confirmed or denied without further testing. |
| TC | Tissue Control; nonspecific and does not indicate if sample is positive or negative. |
| I | Indeterminate or Inconclusive; results are not possible with this sample |
| IN | Nonspecific; agent antibodies weren’t confirmed by a secondary test |
| PDG | Pending; testing still underway |
| QNS | Quantity Not Sufficient; sample did not contain enough medium (e.g. blood) to produce results. |
| P | Pass; Charles River Lab control (sample passed lab control) |
| F | Fail; Charles River Lab control (sample failed lab control) |