Rivalta test

Abstract: Body effusions from 197 cats and blood serum samples from 252 cats, where Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) was part of the differential diagnosis, were analysed. The diagnoses were confirmed by clinical follow up or histopathology. The final diagnosis FIP was always confirmed by histopathology. The median age of cats with FIP was 1.6 years. FIP was responsible for 41% of the body effusions, whereas malignomas caused 24%, cardial insufficiencies 14% and purulent serositis 12% of the body effusions. The rivalta test was highly sensitive for FIP. Predictive value of a negative result was 100%, predictive value of a positive result was 84%. In half of the cases with purulent serositis and in 20% of malignomas rivalta reacted positive. The cardial insufficiencies were negative for rivalta. Coronavirus antigen could be demonstrated by immunofluorescence in 34 of 49 body effusions caused by FIP, whereas in the 50 body effusions caused by other diseases no coronavirus antigen was detected. An albumin globulin ratio of or = 0.8 almost excluded FIP. Only a negative or very high (1:1600) FIP titer could contribute to confirm diagnosis. Low and medium titers, however, should not be interpreted.

Abstract: The cephalin cholesterol flocculation test, the thymol turbidity test, methylene blue, bilirubin, direct diazo reaction, Hay test, urobilinogen test, specific gravity and Rivalta test, have been carried out on the ascites and blood of 40 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure and peritoneal carcinomatosis. The cephalin cholesterol flocculation test was “positive” in 100 percent of specimens of ascitic fluid of hepatic cirrhosis. In the blood of the same patients this test was “positive” in 96 percent. In ascites caused by heart failure “positive” tests were present in 89 percent, and in ascites caused by cancer in 78 percent. In each of these two groups the blood test was “positive” in 56 percent. In contrast, the ascitic fluid thymol turbidity test in patients with hepatic cirrhosis was negative in all instances while in the blood of the same patient, this test was positive in 83 percent. In congestive heart failure and peritoneal carcinomatosis the ascitic fluid thymol turbidity test was negative in all but one instance, whereas the blood thymol turbidity test was positive in approximately one-quarter of the same cases. The significance of the contrasting results of both tests has been discussed. Only 2 of 4 specimens of ascitic fluid gave positive methylene blue tests, although in many specimens the van den Bergh test showed a considerable amount of bilirubin present. The direct diazo reaction in these two specimens was “prompt,” whereas in other specimens giving a negative methylene blue test “delayed” or “biphasic” reactions were observed. The changes of the quantity and the quality (direct diazo reaction) of the bilirubin during the passage from the blood to the ascites have been reported and discussed. The Hay test for cholic acids was negative in the 44 examined specimens of ascitic fluid of all groups. Similarly, in the same specimens the urobilinogen test was negative with one exception. Studies of the specific gravity and Rivalta test of ascitic fluid of all groups revealed that these tests have but limited value in the differentiation of exudates and transudates.

Abstract: Objective To investigate the value of mucin, specific gravity (SG) and ferritin(PFt) in the differentiation of exudate and transudate in pleural and abdominal cavity.Methods Mucin (Rivalta test), SG and PFt (micro particle enzyme immunoassay) were determined in 98 hydrothorax and ascites samples.Results According to the measured values of mucin and SG, 55 were exudate, 15 were transudate and 28 were uncertain. PFt levels were significantly higher in exudate than in transudate (P0.01). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PFt in the differentiation of exudate and transudate were higher than those of routine method.Conclusions PFt measurement is helpful in distinguishing between exudate and transudate, but it is more useful in the diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation if mucin and SG are also measured.