it's most probably a function of the test as much as anything else--age of the test solution, whether the test kit was out of the refrigerator long enough before test done, whether there was not quite enough (or maybe even too much) blood added, odd batch of tests (maybe all with that serial number only show faint responses on either FIV or FeLV....)--no way of knowing, i'd say. so, go with the simplest answer: if there's ANY color after 10 minutes (or whatever that particular test specifies), it's positive. otherwise, even five minutes later, it's negative.
for anyone cross-interested in FIV: go get a log-in id at www.idexx.com, then wander around and find the info on their RealPCR (add trademark symbol here!), and watch dr levy's video about their FIV test that purports to distinquish between the wild and vaccine-induced strains. i haven't actually watched the whole thing yet, because right now i can't remember or concentrate on anything, but since she IS one of the premier investigators for FIV/FeLV in the country, i figure she's a good one to listen to (and i tend to trust IDEXX as a company, and thus their paid consultants, far more than many others). from outside sources, i've heard that while the IDEXX test is more reliable than any of the other attempts at doing PCR/DNA testing for this, it still has a number of problems. i sort of gathered that, perhaps, she addresses some of those in the video. AND i found out, while wandering around the web the other night, why the UC Davis FIV PCR test is not only no longer available, but almost impossible to find any mention of--i mean, i can't find posts and announcements that i KNOW existed..... seems there were patent issues involved..... that test, according to UC Davis was 95% reliable, but considering how much trouble other places had had in trying to develop a test, and rumors of problems with the IDEXX test, i'm not sure i believe if. tho it's all moot.... (we're dealing more and more with the issue of, "where did the FIV come from," right now in purebreds--four or five of them right now, where the possibility of their having been vaccinated is at least as likely, if not more so, than their having gotten out and been bitten on the butt running away from alpha males.....) me _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
