Yes, alwsys retest on a positive SNAP test, but there seems to be a lot of people who think a negstive IFA means the cat is negative. Thats just as scary as people not understanding to always retest a positive.
GRAS <g...@optonline.net> wrote: >"A positive Elisa & a negative IFA means the Cat IS positive" - Yes, UNLESS >the ELISA was a false positive, which means that ideally, one should retest >with the ELISA and see how it comes out (both positive or positive and >negative) and then go from there.... >Yes, it is amazing with all the misinformation...I remember reading things >last year that are different this year (from the same sources...) makes one >really wonder! >Natalie > >-----Original Message----- >From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Beth >Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 7:22 PM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] (no subject) > >Yes, that is correct. A positive Elisa & a negative IFA means the Cat IS >positive, the virus is just not replicating in the bone marrow yet. That's >why I worry when people get so excited about a negative IFA. It really only >means the cat may still throw off the virus. >It's strange your vet didn't make that clear. But then some vets seem >clueless when it comes to this virus. >Hoping for the best for your babies. >Beth > >GRAS <g...@optonline.net> wrote: > >>Hi, everyone: >> >>OK - I guess this is where I should come in and explain about what >>happened to me, based on the note below: >> >>If anyone can remember, about 3 1/2 yrs ago, Eliot Spitty, was >>diagnosed by the ELISA test to be FeLV positive. I couldn't find him a >>home, so I found another positive cat for him after 2 years of him >>being all alone (they became close buddies almost overnight). After I >>joined the group, I learned about the IFA test, had them both tested in >>June, they were negative. I introduced them to the rest of the cats (I >>operate a cat rescue group from our home). Eliot died of renal failure in >September (euthanized), and Mr. >>Tux being such a snuggle bunny, was adopted three weeks ago to a home >>where another cat was adopted from me over 10 years ago. A week ago, >>Mr. Tux started losing appetite, and developed 105 temperature. The >>woman's sister is a veterinarian, knowing his history, she immediately >>tested him ELISA & IFA - both were positive, and his virus is already >>in his bone marrow. They are heartbroken because their 7-yr old >>daughter and Mr. Tux fell in love at first sight - he slept under her arm, >the other cat, Riley, at her side. >>The cats were friendly, but not close (but as we know, FeLV is a very >>sneaky virus). They will have to test Riley in about 5 weeks, Mr. Tux >>went to live with the vet who has a real animal-loving 3-yr old and a >>dog (Mr. Tux likes dogs). Bottom line is: All my cats have been >>exposed to Eliot and Mr. Tux since mid-June. Since the youngest and >>oldest or not-so-healthy cats are at most risk, I started with our >>6-month old Hammie who was only 5 weeks old when he came to us. We >>also tested a cat that had to have another blood tests for his ongoing >>renal problem - both were NEGATIVE! However, little Hammie has a 1045.2 >>temperature, yet was exposed to Mr. Tux long enough to have shown >>reliable results. Hammie had an episode of unknown origin in September, of >104.4 temperature. >> >>I will test the youngest ones first, then the oldest and weakest. The >>"middle class" will come last. I don't know what the results will be, >>I hope that they're all OK - but if it isn't, I am already doing >>research into natural things, changing their diets (even if it means I >>have to cook for them). I am re-reading Anitra Frazier's The New Natural >Cat and Dr. >>Pitcairn's Natural Health for Dogs and Cats - have had the books for years. >>Will also check out my Nicholas Dodd The Cat that Cried for Help, maybe >>there's some advice ion there. >> >>The more I read about the tests, the more it becomes obvious that even >>if the IFA comes back negative after a positive ELISA, it only means >>that the virus just isn't in the bone marrow yet. If the cat tests >>positive on ELISA and negative on a follow-up ELISA, then the cat is >>negative. Unless, of course, the ELISA was a false positive, and again >>a false positive, which I assume can also happen - there are so many >>variables, and it's a shame that so many false positives occur, and so >>many vets tell people to euthanize their cats just because they have tested >positive. >> >>I have privately sent some info I found to the other two who have >>reported cats diagnosed with FeLV, too large to send to this group. I >>will send it to Lee as well. >> >>I am keeping my hopes up that my household won't become a FeLV clinic.. >> >>Natalie >> >>=^..^= >> >> >> >>From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >>[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Lee Evans >>Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 4:31 PM >>To: felvtalk >>Subject: [Felvtalk] (no subject) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Sunday, February 5, 2012 3:44 PM >> >>My cat Moses tested positive for FeLv. Since I have many other cats, I >>isolated him in a room in my house, retested three months later and he >>tested negative. That was about 6 years ago. He's still going strong and >>happy. If Ginger is an only cat, just allow her to continue her life, >>retest in about two or three months. Even if she's still positive, >>that's NOT a death sentence if she's happy and free from stress and >>physical danger. Feed her good food, clean water. Think simple. If >>she has a problem with something, it may be just a normal cat >>situation, not related to leukemia but always have it checked out. >>Most important, get a second opinion and a vet who is going to treat >>Ginger as if she has years of life ahead of her. Be happy and don't look at >her as if she's a pending fatality. >>Look at her the same way you have been doing all along. A wonderful >>cat enjoying her life. >> >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Felvtalk mailing list >>Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >_______________________________________________ >Felvtalk mailing list >Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > >_______________________________________________ >Felvtalk mailing list >Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
