Multiplex fluorescent immunocytochemistry for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis: Determining optimal storage conditions.

Background: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease of cats that can be very difficult to definitively diagnose antemortem. Multiplex fluorescent immunocytochemical (MF-ICC) assays are emerging as useful diagnostic tests in veterinary medicine, particularly for fluid samples.

Objective: We aimed to develop and optimize an MF-ICC assay to detect feline coronavirus within macrophages, with the primary goal of determining the allowable/recommended sample storage conditions for clinical use of this assay.