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Table 1 Spherocytosis, ghost cells, rouleaux, and macroscopic agglutination test results compared to DAT results in 126 dogs suspected to have IMHA

From: Comparative study of immunohematological tests with canine blood samples submitted for a direct antiglobulin (Coombs’) test

Test group

DAT result

Spherocytosisa

Ghost cellsa

Rouleauxa

SAT 1:1

SAT 1:4

Persistent agglutination

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

MICRO DAT+ 

Yes

54

8

10

52

13

49

38

29

38

29

4

63

No

4

54

3

55

13

45

10

49

10

49

0

59

 

p value

 < .001

.077

1.0

 < .001

 < .001

.122

 ≥ 4 DAT+ 

Yes

53

9

11

51

14

48

39

28

39

28

4

63

No

5

53

2

56

12

46

9

50

9

50

0

59

 

p value

 < .001

.017

0.828

 < .001

 < .001

.122

  1. Groups were compared by chi-squared test
  2. SAT saline agglutination test, DAT direct antiglobulin test, MICRO DAT microtiter plate DAT with goat anti-dog IgG, IgM, and C3 reagent incubated at 22°C, ≥ 4 DAT+ at least four different direct antiglobulin test results were positive among the five to six performed DATs
  3. aBlood smears from six dogs could not be assessed due to strong agglutination, except for the presence of autoagglutination