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Is it possible to have a false positive heartworm test?

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Created: 2022-05-27 15:42:10

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Heartworm Positive Do not give your dog any heartworm preventive medication if today's test was positive. False positive tests occasionally occur, so it is important that you consult your veterinarian for follow-up advice. A second test will probably be done. 2 дня назад


What could cause a false positive heartworm test?

Known causes of false positive heartworm antigen tests include infection with Spirocerca lupi, Angiostrongylus vasorum and A. odendhali, while related nematodes, such as other Dirofilaria spp., Dracunculus insignis and Onchocerca spp., are also thought to induce false positive results [49,50,51,52,53].

How accurate are heartworm tests?

Depending on prevalence, the positive predictive value of the heartworm antigen test ranged from 15 to 54% and negative predictive value from 99 to 99.9%. For a hospital testing 1,000 dogs per year, false-positive test results may vary from 24 to 27 dogs.

What does a slight positive heartworm test mean?

Your dog should currently be a heartworm preventative every month like Heartgard. Most heartworm tests are actually looking for antibodies in the bloodstream, so when they come up positive (even light positive, this means that your dog has antibodies or that your dog has been exposed.

How long can a dog have heartworms before testing positive?

The earliest that microfilariae can be detected in a dog's bloodstream is about 6 months after it is bitten by an infected mosquito (because it takes about that long for the heartworms to develop from infective larvae into adults that mate and produce microfilariae).

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