Why did IDEXX put a feline heartworm antigen spot instead of an antibody spot on the SNAP Feline Triple Test?
If positive, the antigen spot on the SNAP Feline Triple Test provides a definitive diagnosis for adult heartworm infection. The disadvantage of an antigen test is that it cannot detect heartworm infection prior to the adult phase, which is about five to seven months postinfection. An antigen test will not detect cats with clinical signs associated with the juvenile stages of Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (H.A.R.D.).