Veterinary Public Health Program
313 N Figueroa St. Rm 1127
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel (213) 288-7060
Fax (213) 481-2375 vet@ph.lacounty.gov
Adobe Reader
Note: PDF documents on this site were created using Adobe Acrobat
5.0 or later. If you are using an earlier version of Adobe Acrobat
Reader (4.x or less), document functionality may be reduced.
Canine Influenza Testing Information
Since dogs with Canine Influenza may present with symptoms similar to other common canine respiratory diseases, testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis. Acute ill dogs may be tested by PCR, while those that have been ill for several days would need to be tested by serology. Both Cornell and UC Davis offer canine influenza tests:
Serology. Serologic
testing is one of the most consistently useful and
inexpensive ways of diagnosing canine influenza, because
the dog may test positive for a long time after the
illness has begun. Dogs do not typically seroconvert
until approximately 7 days after onset. Diagnosis is not
confirmed unless a rising titer 2-3 weeks later is
documented. Serologic testing through Cornell Diagnostic Laboratory cost $22 per sample
plus a $2 accession fee. Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center
3/10/11
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.
PCR tests are most useful when the animal is tested
within the first 1-2 days of illness onset. The virus may be identified by PCR testing on nasal/pharyngeal swabs
if the dog is still shedding the virus at the time of
testing. A negative test does not rule out the diagnosis.
Both UC Davis and Cornell offer PCR testing for canine
influenza virus. See the websites for further
information UC Davis' Lucy Whittier Molecular and Diagnostic Core Facility