FIP Diagnostics in 2025: What’s Changed, What Works, and How Sure Do You Need To Be Before You Treat?

Five years after FIP became treatable, diagnosis is still the trickiest part.

This episode brings together Dr. Sally Coggins (University of Sydney), Prof. Danielle Gunn-Moore, and Dr. Sam Taylor for a 2025 update on FIP diagnostics:  what’s new, what’s practical, and how to balance certainty with urgency when a sick kitten is in front of you.

Dr. Coggins explains the current gold standards:  immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and PCR testing, and clarifies what “confirmed FIP” really means in research versus clinical settings. Prof. Gunn-Moore and Dr. Taylor then discuss real-world diagnostic strategies: how to decide when to treat before PCR results, how to avoid false negatives, and which tests actually give the best diagnostic bang for your buck. 

The discussion also compares diagnostic approaches in Australia and the UK, and closes with a clear summary of testing pathways, what to do with ambiguous results, and a practical explanation of the differences between immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry methods. (It sounds nerdy, but it matters!)

This podcast has been made available through the collaboration of Bova with The Vet Vault.