From:
steve austin
Date: 2001-02-28 19:50:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] ADV Testing
I just can't imagine being disciplined enough (me)
to test mine 3-4 times a year, so is there a point
in testing the first time if I'm not going to keep
it up? I would like to hear other peoples'
opinions.
Katharine
I am wondering where Avecon comes up with the 3-4 times a year. I would
think that if you test a larger number of ferrets and all are negative,
then I wouldn't test again. However, that would be assuming that the
last ferret to get to you was there a few months- long enough to show
antibodies if had a recent exposure to ADV right before you got him.
I then would test each new ferret coming in as part of the quarantine
time.
What the Avecon site doesn't state is what the percent the test is false
negative, and how much the repeat tests increase the chances of the test
being accurate. For example, if the test is 90% accurate after one
negative test, and with two negatives is 96% and three negatives 99%-etc.
then you could judge how important the serial testing is.
It seems to me that it is in their best interests to tell us to test
often, but would like to see the refernces they list to see what the
actual studies showed. (maybe I'll try to find out how to access those
references)
Patty
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.