Re: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test?
unlike november 2009, IDEXX held the exclusive patent on at least part of the SNAP test technology. there were similar tests on the market, but since i just found out about the patent-expiration, i don't have the details re: how different the others were. i do know that the IDEXX tests, tho not without problems, were widely considered (in independent studies) as the best re: accuracy AND ease of interpretation. knowing about the patent issue sort of finalized it for me, and speaking with folks more on the business end of things, their reaction was similar: losing that exclusivity made it imperative for them to come up with something to patent as new and different, and all theirs. just since yesterday, i've found that false HW negatives are turning up in high numbers too--i guess that has been going on, but since my concern is FIV/FeLV, i just wasn't hearing about it. apparently, vets are becoming aware of this, but probably not quickly enough. please mention it when you see yours; when the vets start talking amongst themselves, it'll spread through conferences and other get-togethers. any time you hear of a shelter or rescue that's got a rise in FIV/FeLV, tell them to look into the pattern-- i'm very sorry that because of physical issues, i'm not able right now to contact everyone that i could check with, and then try to talk with IDEXX. i just cannot. MC -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference MaryChristine Special-Needs Coordinator, Purebred Cat Breed Rescue (www.purebredcats.org) Member, SCAT (Special-Cat Action Team) On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Beth wrote: > Is there more than one manufacturer of tests? If so is this a problem with > all manufacturers? > > Beth > Dont Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org > > --- On Thu, 8/19/10, MaryChristine wrote: > > From: MaryChristine > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test? > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 8:08 PM > > i've been writing about this on the lists since may. > > there has been a huge increase in positive test results for both FIV and > FeLV ever since the newer tests were introduced, all over the country. so > many positives, in fact, that those of us who do this rescue thing all day, > realized that it had to be a problem with the tests somehow. > > it became clear that the problem was the new tests, because also all over > the country, cats retested with either the western blot or IFA were testing > negative: all of them, not just the majority as would be expected. i > actually only know of one cat who has tested positive on an IFA following a > positive on the new test. > > as most of you know, i usually am adamant about NOT retesting too soon for > FeLV, as the SNAP and IFA both test for exposure, not infection, so tests > taken too close together will show the same result. however, with this > pattern so clearly presenting itself, those of us following this are > recommending IMMEDIATELY retesting any FeLV positive cats with the older, > FIV/FeLV only tests. > > again, there's only been one report over a wide network of rescues and > rescue vets where a positive on the new test has been confirmed. of course > there will be others, because there ARE positive cats out there--but this > test isn't the one to trust re: finding them. > > just heard about a vet today who has had false positives with the HW > component, as well. > > is this confirmed? no--it's too new, and without a lot of talking amongst > ourselves we wouldn't have seen the pattern; most individual vets aren't > seeing it because they aren't the one being called daily to take all the > newly diagnosed positives! > > try to get a hold of some of the old tests--i heard that last month, they > were on back order (so vets are starting to rethink using the new ones) > would be my completely biased suggestion. > > > MC > -- > Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! > Maybe That'll Make The Difference > > MaryChristine > Special-Needs Coordinator, Purebred Cat Breed Rescue (www.purebredcats.org > ) > Member, SCAT (Special-Cat Action Team) > ___ > 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
Re: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test?
Have you tried calling other vets in your area? I don't know where you are; could ask my vet - but I'm in Greenwich, CT! -Original Message- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of LauraM Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 6:42 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test? We had two cats test positive for FeLV at our shelter yesterday. Today we found out that the new snap tests (the ones that test for heartworm also) have been associated with a higher number of false positives. I'm wondering how many of you have had experience with this, since one of these cats is a five year old neutered 20-pounder who's never been around other cats and has never been outside, and so I was a little surprised at the positive result. We would like to retest them but can't find any tests of the older type. Desperation is setting in because if we can't find somewhere else for them to go, and we have only yesterday's results to rely on, both will go down on Tuesday. If any of you can give me more info, I'd really appreciate it; I can then relay that to my director and maybe buy them another week. Thanks!! ___ 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
Re: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test?
One of our large local cat rescue groups also said they have had a ton of "bad tests"/false positives lately. If this is characteristic of these tests, something needs to be done--many lives will be lost, most do not retest whether due to lack of resources, or simply lack of knowledge. On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 6:41 PM, LauraM wrote: > We had two cats test positive for FeLV at our shelter yesterday. Today we > found out that the new snap tests (the ones that test for heartworm also) > have been associated with a higher number of false positives. I'm wondering > how many of you have had experience with this, since one of these cats is a > five year old neutered 20-pounder who's never been around other cats and has > never been outside, and so I was a little surprised at the positive result. > We would like to retest them but can't find any tests of the older type. > Desperation is setting in because if we can't find somewhere else for them > to go, and we have only yesterday's results to rely on, both will go down on > Tuesday. If any of you can give me more info, I'd really appreciate it; I > can then relay that to my director and maybe buy them another week. Thanks!! > ___ > 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
Re: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test?
Is there more than one manufacturer of tests? If so is this a problem with all manufacturers? Beth Dont Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org --- On Thu, 8/19/10, MaryChristine wrote: From: MaryChristine Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] False positives with snap test? To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 8:08 PM i've been writing about this on the lists since may. there has been a huge increase in positive test results for both FIV and FeLV ever since the newer tests were introduced, all over the country. so many positives, in fact, that those of us who do this rescue thing all day, realized that it had to be a problem with the tests somehow. it became clear that the problem was the new tests, because also all over the country, cats retested with either the western blot or IFA were testing negative: all of them, not just the majority as would be expected. i actually only know of one cat who has tested positive on an IFA following a positive on the new test. as most of you know, i usually am adamant about NOT retesting too soon for FeLV, as the SNAP and IFA both test for exposure, not infection, so tests taken too close together will show the same result. however, with this pattern so clearly presenting itself, those of us following this are recommending IMMEDIATELY retesting any FeLV positive cats with the older, FIV/FeLV only tests. again, there's only been one report over a wide network of rescues and rescue vets where a positive on the new test has been confirmed. of course there will be others, because there ARE positive cats out there--but this test isn't the one to trust re: finding them. just heard about a vet today who has had false positives with the HW component, as well. is this confirmed? no--it's too new, and without a lot of talking amongst ourselves we wouldn't have seen the pattern; most individual vets aren't seeing it because they aren't the one being called daily to take all the newly diagnosed positives! try to get a hold of some of the old tests--i heard that last month, they were on back order (so vets are starting to rethink using the new ones) would be my completely biased suggestion. MC -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference MaryChristine Special-Needs Coordinator, Purebred Cat Breed Rescue (www.purebredcats.org) Member, SCAT (Special-Cat Action Team) ___ 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
