Heartworm, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Anaplasma 4-in-1 Rapid Test Card (Colloidal Gold Method)

Target and Hazard: This product is designed for the combined detection of four common vector-borne pathogens in dogs. Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is transmitted by mosquitoes; adult worms live in the pulmonary arteries and right heart, causing cough, exercise intolerance, ascites and eventually right-sided heart failure, which may be fatal in severe cases. Ehrlichia (such as Ehrlichia canis), Babesia spp. and Anaplasma spp. are all transmitted by ticks and cause fever with thrombocytopenia and bleeding, haemolytic anaemia with haemoglobinuria, and fever with anaemia respectively. Because signs are non-specific and often chronic, and mixed infections are not uncommon, these canine vector-borne diseases are easily missed and cause long-term damage to canine health as well as public health concerns.

Significance of Testing: One card provides heartworm antigen results together with Ehrlichia, Babesia and Anaplasma antibody results: a positive antigen result indicates current adult-worm infection, whereas a positive antibody result indicates exposure to or infection with the corresponding pathogen and requires confirmation with clinical findings and further laboratory testing. Suitable for annual health checks, exposure monitoring in areas or seasons with high mosquito and tick activity, intake screening of stray dogs and pre-transfusion screening, helping to identify occult infections early and guide preventive and treatment decisions.

Principle: Colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay: the heartworm line uses a double-antibody sandwich to detect circulating adult antigen, while the Ehrlichia, Babesia and Anaplasma lines are antibody assays in which specific antigens are coated on the respective test lines (T) and capture antibodies from the sample to produce a visible line. The control line (C) confirms test and procedure validity.

Performance and Applications: No equipment required; visual reading within 5–10 minutes; samples: whole blood, serum or plasma; room-temperature storage and shipment. The card combines four single-analyte tests (heartworm approximately 40 μL of sample; Ehrlichia, Babesia and Anaplasma 10 μL each). Intended for rapid screening of canine vector-borne diseases in veterinary hospitals, animal rescue organisations, primary veterinary stations and quarantine settings. Method: colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (heartworm: double-antibody sandwich antigen detection; Ehrlichia, Babesia and Anaplasma: antibody detection) | Samples: whole blood, serum, plasma | Time to result: 5–10 min | Reading: visual assessment of the corresponding T/C lines — a coloured T line indicates a positive result for that analyte, C line is the procedural control | Format: tests/box (as stated on the label) | Storage: 2–30 °C, cool and dry; shelf life 18 months | Note: sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, intra-/inter-assay CV and agreement with reference methods are subject to our internal QC report.