Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the vaccine for FIV causes any cat that receives it to test positive, forever, on both snap and western blot tests. since most shelters/rescues, as well as many vets, automatically euthanize a cat based on a single snap test (which research has shown to have a very high false-positive rate to start with), not only are homeless cats dying, any vaccinated housecat that gets lost and into the shelter system faces a death sentence as well.

for years, they've been trying to come up with a DNA test that is reliable and valid, to distinquish between the "wild" strains of the FIV virus and the strain that is a result of having been vaccinated.

UC Davis is now offering that test, for FREE (there are shipping and handling costs, as well as possible expense incurred in drawing the blood samples.)

this is incredible news, and information that any owner, shelter, rescue and vet should know! there are lots of FIV+ cats who may not really have the virus but were vaccinated in their former lives, and there are many more who can now be saved with this testing.

(am i excited? ya think?)

here's the link to the UC Davis info--the text info about the test itself is down below the price schedule.

DNA Testing for Vaccine-Induced FIV

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PHCatByte

there ain't no free rides...

the good news:

* the test is about 95% reliable, which is far better than with
earlier dna tests.

the bad news:

* the cost to ship the samples overnight and on ice can run $50-75,
which makes it pretty steep for most rescues/shelters, unless they are
doing a bunch of tests at once and sending them together.

for owners of a beloved cat just diagnosed, tho, it's a far better
alternative than unnecessary euthanasia.

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PHCatByte