Microscopic agglutination test (MAT)

Widely available

• Commercial laboratory only

• Requires live organisms

• Cross-reactions may confuse interpretation

1. Vaccination

2. Exposure without disease

Early in the course of acute disease

Acute and convalescent titers recommended

Point-of-care immunochromatographic test for IgM antibodies^a

• Patient-side test

• Rapid results

No numerical titer

Recent vaccination

Uncommon

Positive at low MAT titers

Point-of-care ELISA for antibodies against LipL32^b

• Patient-side test

• Rapid results

No numerical titer

Vaccination

Early in the course of acute disease

Often negative with low MAT titers

Laboratory ELISA^c

Does not require live organisms

No numerical titer

Vaccination

Early in the course of acute disease

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PCR assay

• Rapid results

• Available at veterinary laboratories

• Validated for use in dogs

Not serogroup specific

1. Subclinical carriers

2. Dead organisms

3. Contamination

1. Low leptospire numbers

2. Intermittent shedding

Most useful when combined with serological testing

Bacterial culture

Directly demonstrates presence of the organism

• Technically demanding

• Not widely available

• Long turnaround time

Organisms can be isolated from body fluids of healthy animals

• Antimicrobial therapy

• Timing of sampling

• Technical difficulties

Not often used clinically