Gold-standard feline heartworm screening at LSU Diagnostics

Aligned with American Heartworm Society Guidelines 

Heartworm infection in cats is a serious condition that can sometimes be fatal, even though many cats tolerate infection without noticeable clinical signs or only transient symptoms. Unlike in dogs, heartworm disease in cats is much harder to diagnose and can easily be missed. For this reason, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) strongly recommends annual testing of all cats. 

No single test can detect every case of feline heartworm. Antigen tests are highly specific for adult female worms, but they cannot identify infections caused only by male worms. To provide the most accurate results, AHS encourages veterinarians to use a combination of tests. The preferred approach includes both a heat-treated antigen test and a feline antibody test. 

At LSU Diagnostics, we offer heat-treated heartworm antigen testing in-house and provide feline heartworm antibody testing through referral to Heska, an Antech company. This combined testing strategy gives clinicians the best tools for accurately identifying heartworm infection in cats.