Clinical
Breath-based heartworm detection method shows promise
A breath-based diagnostic test is currently being developed to detect heartworm disease earlier as infections continue to rise nationwide. Learn what researchers have discovered and why this testing method may be a suitable alternative to blood tests.
Heartworm disease is a common and potentially fatal condition in dogs. Heartworm infections continue to rise annually in the United States with more than 1.2 million dogs infected with the parasite despite available prevention.
The American Heartworm Society recommends annual heartworm testing for dogs seven months of age and older. Many dogs do not receive annual testing or prevention despite these recommendations, which puts them at significant risk for the disease and life-threatening complications.
Current heartworm detection tests
Current heartworm detection methods consist of blood tests used to identify antigens or microfilariae. While minimally invasive, these tests can be stressful for dogs due to sample collection and can have false-negative results due to low worm burdens and infections with only male heartworms.
Because current tests only detect heartworm disease when there are adult female heartworms present, it can take at least 6 months for a dog who actually is infected to show a positive test result. This delays diagnosis and puts a dog at risk for heart and lung damage.
New developments in heartworm testing
Global Innovative Platforms, Inc. is working with researchers to design a breath-based diagnostic test that would be the first of its kind to reliably identify heartworm disease when microfilariae are circulating in a dog’s blood before they mature into adults, allowing much earlier detection and treatment. With earlier detection, devastating complications of heartworm disease, such as heart failure, chronic organ damage, and sudden death, may be prevented.
Elyssa Campbell, PhD, a research faculty member in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine is directly involved in this research.
“The main benefit of breath-based heartworm testing is that it’s completely noninvasive and may detect infections earlier than the five/six-month window required by standard antigen tests,” she said. “It also doesn’t require consumables or special storage.”
A 12-month study was recently completed in October 2025 to analyze test efficacy using in vivo testing. Dogs infected with heartworms exhale specific volatile compounds that can be analyzed using gas chromatography in less than 2 minutes. Over 100 breath samples from dogs were tested, and results were promising.
This test is non-invasive and eliminates the need to collect blood samples. Andy Moorhead is an associate professor at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Board Member of the American Heartworm Society.
“The major plus of this test is that you don’t have to stick an animal,” he said. “Any time you can do something that is non-invasive, there’s benefits and convenience. The beauty is you’ve also eliminated an occupational health hazard to the veterinary staff when needles aren’t involved.”
The test’s convenience could increase the likelihood pet parents will keep their dogs up-to-date on annual heartworm testing when they may not have otherwise done so. It could also be used in other veterinary settings. “I think this test could have widespread use at veterinary clinics as well as shelters who have the capacity and staff for it. Perhaps it can be used for mobile use as well,” Moorhead added.
However, it is still very early in the research process.
“The technology is still in development,” Campbell said. “Like any emerging diagnostic, we need to establish sensitivity and specificity benchmarks across different infection stages and patient populations, standardize collection protocols, and complete the validation and regulatory approval process before it can be implemented in practice.”
Promising future for breath-based tests
Researchers are excited to analyze more data in future studies. The research team is also hoping to collaborate with a partner to produce a market-ready breath-based device for heartworms.
While this diagnostic test is specific for heartworm disease, this testing method may open the door for other breath-based diagnostics that can be used to detect other medical conditions in the future.
“The platform’s potential extends well beyond heartworm to comprehensive parasitology screening,” said Campbell. “This would eliminate the need for traditional fecal testing in cases where drug efficacy monitoring isn’t the primary concern. Imagine the impact: one 60-second noninvasive test could replace multiple workflows. It would save several minutes per patient in sample processing and dramatically reduce the training burden for new staff who are currently learning the nuances of different fecal diagnostic procedures.”
The future seems bright for breath-based diagnostic testing and it remains an exciting novel strategy in veterinary medicine to benefit both veterinary staff and pets.
“For veterinary teams that are already stretched thin, streamlining diagnostics while maintaining or improving accuracy represents a significant step forward in both practice efficiency and patient care,” Campbell added.
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