When should kittens be combo tested?

When should kittens be combo tested?

All kittens should be tested for this virus. A positive test should be repeated and confirmed. The test for this virus is valid at any age; therefore, kittens should be tested as soon as possible, preferably by eight weeks of age.

How long does FIV FeLV take?

How is the test performed? How long does it take to receive results? the results take approximately 15-20 minutes.

How accurate is the FIV test?

A: Published studies have shown that the SNAP test is highly sensitive and specific for the detection of antibodies against FIV in infected cats. Levy et al. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004;225:1558-1561) reported sensitivity of 98-100%. Negative FIV antibody results are highly reliable for the detection of uninfected cats.

Should you test your kitten for feline leukemia?

A shelter or community cat or kitten should only be tested if she is showing signs and symptoms of illness that may be related to a compromised immune system caused by FIV and FeLV. If cats are not ill, we do not recommend testing.

Can kittens fight off feline leukemia?

Feline leukemia virus can be transmitted among cats in close, prolonged contact with each other through saliva, urine, and other bodily fluids including nasal and eye secretions. Often, it is transmitted from a mother cat to her kittens, and kittens are less able to fight off the virus than are adult cats.

When to test kittens for FeLV and FIV?

Due to potential test interference, it is tempting to delay testing kittens for FIV until over 6 months of age. However, most kittens test negative and can be reliably considered clear of infection. While FIV infection of kittens is uncommon, it has been known to occur.

How long do FIV antibodies last in kittens?

Maternally derived vaccine-associated antibodies may persist in kittens for longer than 8 weeks, giving another reason to interpret positive FIV antibody tests in young kittens with caution and to recommend re-testing.

How can you tell if a kitten has leukemia?

A kitten with advanced leukemia will also lose weight and have anemia. The virus can be identified though a blood test. An ELISA test may also be performed. The test will reveal the presence of the feline leukemia antigens if the kitten is infected.

Can a 6 month old kitten be infected with FIV?

The presence of antibodies does not mean the cat is infected. Positive FIV tests in kittens under 6 months of age should not be interpreted as FIV infection. Kittens are rarely infected but may test positive because antibodies can be passed from infected mothers through nursing.

Due to potential test interference, it is tempting to delay testing kittens for FIV until over 6 months of age. However, most kittens test negative and can be reliably considered clear of infection. While FIV infection of kittens is uncommon, it has been known to occur.

Maternally derived vaccine-associated antibodies may persist in kittens for longer than 8 weeks, giving another reason to interpret positive FIV antibody tests in young kittens with caution and to recommend re-testing.

A kitten with advanced leukemia will also lose weight and have anemia. The virus can be identified though a blood test. An ELISA test may also be performed. The test will reveal the presence of the feline leukemia antigens if the kitten is infected.

The presence of antibodies does not mean the cat is infected. Positive FIV tests in kittens under 6 months of age should not be interpreted as FIV infection. Kittens are rarely infected but may test positive because antibodies can be passed from infected mothers through nursing.