i'd definitely go for the IFA instead of the elissa--the false positive rate is just too high on the latter. i don't know how much actual research there is on how long it can take to clear on the IFA--i'd seen a cite of up to 8 months from exposure, tho that one no longer appears where i saw it. belinda says it was a year. part of the issue is that, if after all that time, the cats is still positive, does it really matter? for keeping on eye on things, yes, but if the kitty's been in your family that long, it's not likely that his status will really make much difference in whether he stays, is it?
others will have more info re: mixing positives with negatives, and/or mixing unvaccinated negatives with positives. personally, i would vaccinate my negatives and mix with no problem, but there's an ongoing debate about the safety of vaccinations that each individual needs to weigh.
MC
On 9/11/06, Susan Franklin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
You guys, as I've said before, are FANTASTIC. Whenever I get down about
stuff I read on other Internet sites regarding mixing or throwing off
the virus, I can always count on coming to you and getting an
optimistic, truthful and knowledgeable answer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I will reschedule Gunnar's
appointment for 120 days from August 3. Instead of re-testing with the
ELISA, I will have the IFA test done. That is correct??
And if, God forbid, the IFA is positive after 120 days, how many more
days would you recommend I wait before I retest again??
And are you guys okay with mixing?? My girls are 16 and almost 8.
Gunnar is 1-1/2 or 2. The girls are in the process of being vaccinated.
I'm sure they won't be grooming each other, so all I need to do is keep
the litter box clean and worry about the food/water bowls. I can pick
up breakfast/lunch/dinner dishes immediately after meals, but what's the
best route to take regarding the water bowl? And I guess I would clean
the litter box in the morning and when I get home each night from work.
Does this sound like a safe plan? Any other suggestions would be
appreciated.
Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your advice and
words of wisdom. You've made a nervous "sister" to three cats a more
calmer person. Like I told our vet, who said "don't count on it" when
I told her we were literally praying to throw the virus, I trust and
believe more in what I read on this site than I would the vet's office.
You guys have "been there, done that." And you've got love, which is
the strongest feeling of all.
God bless all of you and your kitties!!
Keep the faith.
Susan F.
Chicago, Illinois
sister to Kelly (16 - just had her Sweet 16 on Saturday), Meagan
(7-1/2) and Gunnar (1-1/2-2).
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9/11/06 3:07:48 PM >>>
retest using the IFA at a minimum of 90 days--i go for 120 days since
most
times it takes between three and four months to clear the virus--so
unless
you are absolutely sure that he couldn't have been in contact with an
infected cat that entire amount, better to wait.
statistically, 70% of those originally tested positive on the ELISA
will
test negative on the IFA--if you do not test too soon. as belinda says,
even
if an IFA is positive after 90-120 days, it's still not a
definite--the
virus can still clear itself.
On 9/11/06, Nina < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I'm confused about who is asking what here. Who's the person that
is
> using caps to talk with? Anyway, this was just posted on my feral
list in
> answer to questions about ELISA vs IFA. I don't know this person,
(and I
> hope he wouldn't mind my copying his post for our list), but his
response
> seemed knowledgeable and even in my foggy state of mind, a
reasonable
> explanation. I had thought that it wasn't possible to detect felv
antigens
> in the bone marrow, (sequestered), even with an IFA. I thought I'd
throw
> his comments out there for others to comment on.
> Nina
>
> > the ELISA is about 100 times more sensitive than the IFA- but
> not as specific- which accounts for the high % of false positives.
The
> ELISA detects soluble (circulating) P27 antigen while the IFA detects
P27
> antigen in nucleated cells, neutrophils and platelets, or in bone
marrow
> cells.
>
> IFAs depend upon advanced stages of infection to detect the presence
of
> antigen and thus will not usually pick up early infections or
sequestered
> infections. The increased sensitivity of the ELISA allows the
detection of
> early infections, transient infections, and sequestered infections
that may
> not be picked up by the IFA.
>
> Neither the ELISA nor IFA will not detect viral latency, because
during
> viral latency P27 antigen is not being produced. >
>
>
>
> Susan Franklin wrote:
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9/11/06 8:37:18 AM >>>
>
>
> Susan,
> I would wait *at least* 90 days and then get the IFA test. WOULD
I
> NOT WANT TO GET THE ELISSA TEST AGAIN??? ISN'T THE IFA TEST "THE
FINAL
> SAY"??? IF THE IFA CAME BACK POSITIVE, WOULD I CONTINUE TO RETEST
WITH
> THE IFA? AND HOW OFTEN?
>
> Keep
> giving the Mega C and good food and hopefully he will clear the
virus.
>
> But if not and it could take longer than 90 days, he'll still be
> healthier with the supplements and better food, which gives him a
> better
> chance of fighting off any opportunistic diseases or viruses. WILL
DO.
> THANK YOU.
>
> I had Bailey tested once a year for about the first 5 years by then
it
>
> was obvious he wasn't going to throw it off, this is after the
initial
>
> retest in 90 days. I had him PCR tested when he was about 8 years
old
>
> and it was in his DNA. But he was healthy up until he got sick at
> almost 11 years of age, and he tested positive at 5 months of age,
so
> he
> lived a very good life for about 11 years being positive. AND THANK
> THE GOOD LORD BAILEY HAD YOU!!!!!!!!!! I'M GOING TO DO ALL I CAN FOR
MY
> GUNNAR.
>
> AND HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T SEE ANY HUGE PROBLEMS WITH HIS MIXING WITH
> KELLY AND MEAGAN (NEGS)?? I'VE GOT TO SAY....THIS SITE HAS GIVEN ME
SO
> MUCH HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE. REGARDING MIXING, ETC. THANK GOD YOU
GUYS
> WERE THERE TO TELL ME ABOUT THE WELLNESS FOOD AND THE MEGA C. MY
VET
> WASN'T EXACTLY ENCOURAGING ABOUT HIM THROWING OFF THE VIRUS - AND
OTHER
> SITES ARE JUST SO "DOWN" ON MIXING.
>
> God bless you all - you are generous with your time and advice and
it's
> just so obvious how much you love your furry friends!!
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Maybe That'll Make The Difference....
MaryChristine
AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats
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Maybe That'll Make The Difference....
MaryChristine
AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats
MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ICQ: 289856892
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Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors!
Maybe That'll Make The Difference....
MaryChristine
AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats
MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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