How is the diagnosis of dirofilariasis by serology performed?

The most useful serological tests for the diagnosis of filariasis are antigen detection tests and antibody detection tests.
The specificity of antigen tests for detecting infection is high, but sensitivity depends on sex, age, and quantity of infecting parasites.
Antigenemia is detectable in cats from 5.5-8 months post-infection.
Antibodies are detectable from 2 months post-infection.
The sensitivity and specificity of antibody tests are lower than those of antigen tests.