I've heard of the ELISA occasionally giving a false negative, but it is rare and not nearly as likely as getting a false positive. It's more likely that the first ELISA test was wrong and gave you a false positive and this second ELISA test showing the negative is correct. But it might mean she just extinguished the virus in the time between the two tests.
From what I understand, if the ELISA is negative then the IFA has to be negative. That's assuming both test were done correctly. But, since there is room for error I think either getting a second ELISA test or an IFA test will make you feel a lot better so it is probably worth the money to get one of those test done as a confirmation. Of course, assuming the first ELISA test which gave you a positive was correct, then she may still have the virus but put it into dormancy. If so, then she can't pass it to your cats because it is in the bone marrow only and not in the bloodstream or saliva so they will still be safe. If it's dormant you will not know because both the ELISA and the IFA will be negative. A bone marrow test is the only way to know if it is dormant. If it were me I think I'd have either a second ELISA or an IFA test just to have additional confirmation and after that don't worry about it and let her meet the rest of the family. A second ELISA test would be good enough but since the IFA test doesn't cost that much more than the ELISA you might feel better doing that one. Either way I bet they will both be negative. sent from my AT&T Smartphone by HTC ----- Reply message ----- From: "Jannes Taylor" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, May 30, 2011 7:53 am Subject: [Felvtalk] Your Opinion would be GREATLY appreciated To: <[email protected]> Natalie, I have been wondering so many things. In the beginning I doubted that Amber would be able to fight off the virus in the pitiful condition she was in. I was surprised when she tested negative! I also read that sometimes they can test negative by IFA but the viurs could still be just laying wait ready to reappear in the future. Sometimes I think you can read too much. Who knows what to believe!! Amber is so full of enery and looks really good. She still weights only 6..8 lbs. It is had to believe she has only gained an eight of a lb in three months but her ribs don't show anymore. I also find it puzzling that she has not come in heat yet. She may have already been spayed?? The vet guesses her to be approx 1 year old. I know some folks mix their cats and don't worry but I can't help being concerned about it. Jannes ________________________________ From: Natalie <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sun, May 29, 2011 4:19:23 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Your Opinion would be GREATLY appreciated I wonder if extreme stress, bad diet, etc. can cause false positives. In the first year (1992)that I trapped cats for our rescue group, an adult cat tested positive for FeLV. Three months later, she was negative! -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jannes Taylor Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 12:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Your Opinion would be GREATLY appreciated I am so releived she tested negative. I think maybe I have read too much sometimes. All the upstairs cats have been vaccinated against felv so that helps even though I know it is not 100&. I am going to think about this today and view all the opinions. Thanks! Jannes _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
