Accuplex™ Canine Vector-Borne Disease Screening

What Is Accuplex?

Accuplex is a multiplexed immunological canine heartworm and tick-borne disease screening performed at the Antech Reference Lab.

Pathogens Covered by Accuplex

Accuplex provides accurate, consistent detection of exposure to seven vector-borne pathogens:

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)
Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi)
Ehrlichia canis
E. ewingii
E. chaffeensis
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
A. platys

Benefits of Accuplex Reference Lab Testing

Did you know it’s easy to include Accuplex testing with routine wellness profiles? An ideal solution for managing overall patient wellness, you’ll get the quality, efficiency, and convenience you expect from send-out testing.

Reclaim staffing and storage availability by sending patient samples to the Antech Reference Lab for confident, reliable, vector-borne disease screening. Plus, no reader to purchase or clean, no calibration, no tests with expiration dates to manage.

Reliable Heartworm Antigen Screening

Heartworm (D. immitis) infection is a life-threatening condition in dogs. Early identification, before a dog begins to show clinical signs, is crucial to early intervention when treatment is most impactful. The Accuplex heartworm antigen test is an important addition to veterinarians’ toolkit — for well and sick patients alike.

Note: If heartworm is detected by any antigen test, the American Heartworm Society recommends confirmation through a secondary antigen test or, preferably, testing for circulating microfilariae. A confirmatory Knott’s microfilaria test can be conveniently added to an Accuplex result using Antech’s ADD80 test code.

Lyme C6 Antibody Detection

Accuplex’s Lyme test employs detection of antibodies to the C6 peptide, which exists in the invariable region (IR6) of the VIsE surface lipoprotein of B. burgdorferi and is only expressed following natural infection or exposure of a host. Therefore, a positive C6 result will not be reported from cross-reactivity with vaccinal antibodies.

The 2018 ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats indicates the utility of screening for C6 antibodies in the detection of Lyme disease.¹ Antech is committed to enhancing our diagnostic offerings in line with advances in clinical medicine and to address the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases.

[1] Littman MP, Gerber B, Goldstein RE, Labato MA, Lappin MR, Moore GE. ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(3):887-903. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15085

Expanded Ehrlichia & Anaplasma Testing

Accuplex detects antibodies against three Ehrlichia species and two Anaplasma species, an enhancement that helps veterinarians to make better-informed therapeutic decisions.

Tick-borne disease infection risks are growing, and Accuplex is growing with them.

Sample Requirements & Turnaround Time

U.S. Code
Accuplex: AC100

Canada Code
Accuplex: CAC100

Sample Size
0.5mL serum (red top or serum separator tube) is the preferred sample type. EDTA plasma (lavender top) that has been separated from cells after centrifugation is also accepted.

Turnaround Time
1-2 days. Most veterinary practices receive results by 8:00 am the next day.

Clinical Resources & Interpretation Tools

Navigating a positive vector-borne disease test result can be tricky. Antech is committed to supporting you as you determine the next steps in treatment. See our Accuplex Resources below to download clinical decision-making algorithms for Heartworm, Lyme, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia.

Accuplex Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which animal species can be assessed with Accuplex?

Accuplex has been validated for use with canine patients.

Can I bundle Accuplex with other reference lab diagnostic and wellness tests?

Yes! Antech offers a wide variety of test profiles, providing the option to include chemistry panels, bloodwork, fecals (including KeyScreen™ GI Parasite PCR Panel), and others alongside Accuplex! These profiles deliver cost savings and a broader range of health and wellness information. Your Antech representative can help you to build the profile(s) that suit your needs.

Did you know Accuplex is also included in our Loved for Life by Antech Preventive Care Program?

What does a positive Accuplex test result mean?

Accuplex is a multiplexed immunological reference lab test designed to detect the presence of Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) antigen, as well as antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme), Ehrlichia spp. (E. canis, E. ewingii, & E. chaffeensis), and Anaplasma spp. (A. phagocytophilum & A. platys). To assist with next steps and follow-up diagnostics, Antech provides interpretive comments for all Accuplex results (positive or negative).

Where can I find additional information and resources regarding treatment guidelines and/or prevalence of vector-borne pathogens?

There are many resources available to assist in understanding the risks of tick- and mosquito-borne illness. These resources include, but are not limited to:

I typically order a PCR test to follow up every positive Ehrlichia or Anaplasma antibody test result. With a greater number of Accuplex positive results, should I expect to see my rate of active infections detected by PCR also increase?

Not necessarily. An antibody test detects a patient’s immune response to an infectious pathogen (exposure), as compared to a PCR test that detects the presence of the pathogen itself.

A positive result with Accuplex (and other vector-borne disease screening tests) indicates that a patient has previously been exposed to one of the detected pathogens, and the dog’s immune system generated antibodies to combat that infection. In many cases, the dog’s natural defenses can clear the infection without intervention and without ever exhibiting any symptoms.

Because PCR detects the genetic material of the infectious agent itself, a successful immune response will result in the destruction of the pathogenic material and, ultimately, a negative PCR test. Meanwhile, the antibodies produced to fight the infection can remain in a patient’s blood for months to years.

It’s common to see Accuplex positive results return negative PCR results, especially in otherwise healthy patients. Therefore, an increase in positive Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. Accuplex results may not yield commensurate increases in positive PCR test results.

Does Accuplex differentiate between the different detected Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species?

No. As with all competing tests, Accuplex offers a single “Positive” or “Negative” result for each of the four major pathogen groups, even where multiple species may be detected.

A single Ehrlichia spp. result will be “Positive” if antibodies to any of the included species (E. canis, E. ewingii, or E. chaffeensis) are detected. The result is “Negative” if no antibodies to these species are detected.

A single Anaplasma spp. result will be “Positive” if antibodies to any of the included species (A. phagocytophilum or A. platys) are detected. The result is “Negative” if no antibodies to these species are detected.

Is it necessary to confirm a positive heartworm test when using the Accuplex test?

The American Heartworm Society Guidelines recommend positive antigen tests be confirmed with additional testing prior to treatment. Confirmation must include identification of circulating microfilariae (e.g. Knott’s test; U.S. test code T390 / Canada test code CT390) or a second positive antigen test using a different test platform or methodology (e.g. Heartworm Secondary Confirmation; U.S. test code T619 / Canada test code CT619).

Where can I find additional information regarding treatment or management guidance following a heartworm-detected Accuplex result?

In addition to the American Heartworm Society Guidelines and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) Heartworm Guidelines, please see the Antech Canine Heartworm Antigen Test Clinical Decision-Making Algorithm for detailed guidance on next steps, based on your Accuplex™ test results.

Why is C6 Lyme antibody detection important?

Since 2021, the Accuplex Lyme test has exclusively utilized detection of antibodies against the C6 peptide, which is in accordance with the 2018 ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats. The result is a straightforward positive or negative result. Because C6 is not used in any commercial vaccines, a positive result confidently indicates natural exposure, rather than the presence of antibodies through vaccination.¹

Where can I find information regarding treatment or management guidance following a Lyme-positive Accuplex result?

Please see the Antech Lyme Clinical Algorithm for detailed guidance on next steps, based on Accuplex test results, and refer to the ACVIM Lyme Borreliosis Consensus Guidelines.

I live in [region] — why do I need to test for vector-borne diseases that aren’t common in my area?

Vector-borne diseases are present coast-to-coast.

Unfortunately, there are no longer regions without any vector-borne disease risk. As our world continues to become more connected and temperatures increase, pathogens too spread and can infect pets and their people.

To better understand your region’s specific vector-borne disease risk, you can view the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) Parasite Prevalence maps.

Get Started with Accuplex Testing

Our timely, accurate, and actionable test results help your practice foster trust with pet owners and encourage them to comply with regular screening recommendations.

If you’re ready to learn more about how Accuplex can benefit your patients, we’re here to help.

Have questions about Accuplex?

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