OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive ability of a commercially available lateral-flow immunoassay used for determining passive transfer of immunoglobulins in calves. ANIMALS: 204 male Holstein calves ranging from 4 to 8 days old. PROCEDURE: Serum samples were obtained from each calf. Results of refractometry, zinc sulfate turbidity technique, and the lateral-flow immunoassay were determined. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predictive ability were calculated on the basis of IgG concentrations determined by turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA). RESULTS: Mean IgG concentration in the study was 10.9 mg/ml as determined by TIA. Rate of failure of passive transfer in this study population was 56%. Associations between the values for the refractometry and zinc sulfate turbidity techniques were established by regression analysis. Accuracy for the lateral-flow immunoassay, refractometry, and zinc sulfate turbidity methods was 95, 80, and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lateral-flow immunoassay was better at determining the status of passive transfer of immunoglobulins, compared with the refractometry or zinc sulfate turbidity methods. The ability of the lateral-flow immunoassay to provide accurate results should enable clinicians to make immediate management or intervention decisions.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive ability of a commercially available lateral-flow immunoassay used for determining passive transfer of immunoglobulins in calves. ANIMALS: 204 male Holstein calves ranging from 4 to 8 days old. PROCEDURE: Serum samples were obtained from each calf. Results of refractometry, zinc sulfate turbidity technique, and the lateral-flow immunoassay were determined. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predictive ability were calculated on the basis of IgG concentrations determined by turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA). RESULTS: Mean IgG concentration in the study was 10.9 mg/ml as determined by TIA. Rate of failure of passive transfer in this study population was 56%. Associations between the values for the refractometry and zinc sulfate turbidity techniques were established by regression analysis. Accuracy for the lateral-flow immunoassay, refractometry, and zinc sulfate turbidity methods was 95, 80, and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lateral-flow immunoassay was better at determining the status of passive transfer of immunoglobulins, compared with the refractometry or zinc sulfate turbidity methods. The ability of the lateral-flow immunoassay to provide accurate results should enable clinicians to make immediate management or intervention decisions.