Infectious Disease Research¶
This section documents the diagnostic-accuracy research behind Migibio's infectious-disease assays for canine and feline pathogens — CPV, CDV, FPV, FeLV, and FIV.
Infectious-disease testing is the highest-stakes use of POCT: a false negative can mean a missed outbreak, and a false positive can mean unnecessary isolation or euthanasia. This section explains the detection strategy and accuracy for each pathogen.
Pathogen Coverage & Detection Strategy¶
| Pathogen | Species | Target | Detection |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPV (canine parvovirus) | Canine | VP2 antigen | Antigen (fecal) |
| CDV (canine distemper virus) | Canine | Viral antigen / antibody | Antigen or antibody |
| FPV (feline panleukopenia) | Feline | Viral antigen | Antigen |
| FeLV (feline leukemia virus) | Feline | p27 antigen | Antigen |
| FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) | Feline | Antibody | Antibody |
Antigen vs Antibody: Why It Matters¶
The detection target determines when the test is informative:
- Antigen detection (CPV, FPV, FeLV p27) detects the pathogen itself — useful during active infection or shedding, and for FeLV, identifies persistent (not transient) infection.
- Antibody detection (FIV, CDV antibody) detects the host immune response — useful for exposure/vaccination status, but requires time for seroconversion.
Understanding this distinction is critical for correct interpretation. See Diagnostic Accuracy for the per-pathogen breakdown.
Accuracy Framework¶
| Pathogen | Typical Sensitivity | Typical Specificity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPV antigen | High | High | Recent vaccination can cause transient false positives |
| FPV antigen | High | High | Closely related to CPV (same parvovirus family) |
| FeLV p27 | High | Very high | Positive should be confirmed (persistence) |
| FIV antibody | High | High | Kittens may test antibody-positive from maternal immunity |
Interpretation Principles¶
- Vaccination status matters — recent vaccination can produce transient antigen (CPV) or antibody (CDV/FIV) positivity.
- Maternal antibodies — kittens and puppies may test positive for antibodies inherited from the dam, not from active infection.
- Confirmation — a positive FeLV antigen result warrants follow-up to distinguish persistent from transient infection; PCR can confirm where available.
FAQ¶
Can a recent vaccine cause a false positive? Yes. Modified-live vaccines (e.g., for CPV) can cause transient antigen positivity for days to weeks. Interpret results in light of vaccination history.
Why test FeLV antigen rather than antibody? The p27 antigen identifies persistent infection — the clinically relevant state. Antibody testing alone cannot distinguish recovered from persistently infected cats.
When should a positive be confirmed by PCR? For FeLV (persistent vs transient), for unexpected antigen positives in vaccinated animals, and for any result that will drive a euthanasia or major management decision.
For clinical interpretation in practice, see the Knowledge Base canine and feline disease sections.
Authored by: Migibio Clinical & Scientific Affairs, Guangzhou Magic Biotech Co., Ltd.
Reviewed by: Migibio R&D Quality Committee
Last updated: 2026-08-13
Disclosure: Migibio (Guangzhou Magic Biotech Co., Ltd.) is the manufacturer of the FIA680/FIA880 analyzers and FICT reagents referenced in this content. See our Editorial & Review Policy.