Glenda,
I think that you've made a good start -- here are my thoughts (just my 2 cents):
First, I think that the ELISA test may or may not be very reliable depending on who does the test, what kind of stress the animal is under, who is reading the results, etc. Hence the varying false positive/negative results that are bound to occur.
Second, like people, every cat is different, and as FeLV is an immune disorder (like HIV), each cat will react and/or succumb to it differently depending on the individual constitution.
We've been talking on the list (especially lately) about how a cat might test positive for antibodies, but that doesn't necessarily mean infection.
With so many variables, it's so hard to determine really what's the BEST way to approach how to house these critters -- to separate or not. Personally, I look at it this way: I have 3 FeLV+, and 1 FeLV-. I don't separate them. I thought about it when I was bringing Siggie home (he's my negative), and although I would agree that he might be safer in a negative household, it was just he and Salome' at the time. I figured it was an acceptable risk at the time because the woman I adopted him from was giving him away for free, and I was concerned that he'd end up in a lab or something....and it was a good thing I took him because he had some MAJOR behavioral problems that I had to correct. If anyone else had taken him, he'd have ended up in a shelter for sure.
Now I have added 2 more positives. I had Siggie re-tested in November at his vaccination anniversary date and he was still negative, so I had his booster done. But these other 3 would be otherwise condemned to death if I gave them up, and the way I figure it, they all have a better chance at some quality of life with me than if I gave any of them up. So although Siggie is taking his chances, he'll be loved and loved and loved, and he will have a happy forever home with me.
=^..^= Terri, Salome', Siggie the Tomato Vampire, Gareth, Alec, and 3 furangels: Ruthie, Samantha, and Arielle =^..^=
Visit my home page!
http://pages.ivillage.com/ruthiegirl1/MyFeLVinformationSite/
