From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-05-20 23:09:00 UTC
Subject: Re: ADV test kit
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Stephanie L. Boyce" <sboyce@m...>
wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I managed to lose all my saved e-mail. A while back someone sent
me the link to an ADV site where you could order and do the testing
yourself. Is that recommended? If anyone know the link I'm talking
about or knows of another, please let me know.
Dear Stephanie:
For what it is worth, I have some serious misgivings about the
current reliability of the Avecon saliva test, and I do not currently
recommend its use. There have been a number of false negatives with
this test, and it has recently shown poor correlation with Avecon
blood tests in the hands of owners and shelter operators. Whether it
is a sample problem, a testing problem, a problem with the
components, or something else, there are simply too many variables
with it to rely on it.
Regarding the available blood test, the CIEP test has many years of
successful use and independent confirmation of its reliability.
Currently, the leaders in research in this field, Drs. Bloom and
Stephenson, preferentially use it over an ELISA test.
Regarding the ELISA blood test by Avecon Diagnostics - the initial
testing regimen was fairly small and there were a number of false
negatives. Testing appears to be continuing at Avecon, but the
proper time for this testing is before a product goes to market, not
afterward. I suggest that of the Avecon options, this one probably
has more merit, but I would caution, as I have in the recent past,
that all positive ELISA tests be confirmed by the CIEP test. I am
hopeful that Avecon will soon answer the continuing questions on the
product.
As a positive serologic titer for ADV is almost akin to a death
sentence for a ferret, I believe that all possible options should be
exhausted before declaring an animal positive.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM