Final answer:
To perform a heartworm test, place one drop of the blood sample and one drop of the reagent on a test card and follow the instructions for detection of heartworm antigens. Microfilariae, the larvae of heartworms, can be identified under a microscope due to their size in relation to red blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
To perform a heartworm test, which is a diagnostic procedure used to detect the presence of heartworms, such as Dirofilaria, in dogs, the specific quantities you need are both one drop of the sample, which is the blood, and one drop of the conjugate, which in this context is referred to as the reagent or a suspension of horse erythrocytes.
First, you will place one drop of the patient sample (blood) inside the marked circle on the test card. Next, you will take one drop of the reagent from the bottle and add it next to the blood sample on the card. Before doing this, remember to shake the reagent bottle as directed. This mixture will interact to reveal the presence of heartworm antigens if the patient is infected.
When reviewing blood samples under a microscope, you will be scanning for microfilariae, which are significantly larger than blood cells and can be identified by their distinctive size and shape, especially when compared to the red blood cells, which have a diameter of approximately 10 μm.