Feline Blood Type Rapid Test Card

Target and Hazard: The feline AB blood group system consists mainly of type A, type B and a smaller proportion of type AB, determined by antigens on the red blood cell surface. Incompatible blood types can have serious consequences: transfusing type B blood into a type A cat or type A blood into a type B cat can cause an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction, potentially fatal; and when a type B queen is mated to a type A tom, type A or AB kittens may develop neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) from colostral alloantibodies, presenting with anaemia, haemoglobinuria, weakness and even death. Blood typing is therefore fundamental to safe transfusion and breeding management in cats.

Significance of Testing: The card rapidly determines feline type A/B (and AB where distinguishable) and is used for matching donor and recipient cats before transfusion, assessing blood-type compatibility of breeding pairs, and warning of neonatal isoerythrolysis risk in kittens born to type B queens. It also allows re-checking of blood type in cats with a history of transfusion, substantially reducing the risk of transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis.

Principle: Colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay: specific monoclonal antibodies against type A and type B antigens are coated on separate test lines; the corresponding red cell antigens in the sample react with the line antibodies and produce a visible line at the relevant position, allowing the sample to be classified as type A, type B or type AB. The control line (C) confirms test and procedure validity.

Performance and Applications: No equipment required; sample: anticoagulated whole blood (or red cell suspension prepared per instructions); visual reading at 2–3 minutes; store and ship at 2–30 °C in a cool, dry place, with an 24-month shelf life. Suitable for pre-transfusion blood typing in veterinary hospitals, blood-type matching in breeding catteries and on-site testing at primary clinics. Method: colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay | Samples: anticoagulated whole blood (or red cell suspension prepared per instructions) | Time to result: 2–3 min | Reading: visual assessment of the position of the coloured test line to classify type A/B/AB; C line is the procedural control | Format: tests/box (as stated on the label) | Storage: 2–30 °C, cool and dry; shelf life 24 months | Note: agreement of blood-type determination with reference typing methods (e.g. laboratory haemagglutination) and limit of detection are subject to our internal QC report.