[2 part post combined] I was going to stay out of this, but something today prompted me to jump into the fray. So, here goes. First, I am not a part of the AFA decision making process, so I can not comment on why they made the decisions they did. However, later in this post I will include some information about the various ADV testing methods, which hopefully will help people understand each test a little better. The Avecon ELISA test is a very different test from the Avecon Quik Test, despite the fact they both use saliva. The AFA has created a fund to help with the cost of spaying and neutering the ferrets from the DMK rescue. This is a good thing. They have given people who want to help with this a place where money can be collected. AFA is a qualified not for profit organization, so money donated to this fund is tax deductible, which is important to some people. Further, the AFA has put $500.00 of AFA funds into this pot, to get it started. As others have pointed out, this is the AFA's fund, and the initial donation is AFA's money. They have a right to put whatever standards or restrictions they want on this money. My personal opinion is, the AFA should not be expected to lower their standards. However, I also understand that not everyone will agree with that. For the people that do not like the standards the AFA has imposed on the AFA fund, instead of arguing about it, just donate your money to a different fund. There are a number of choices, and at least one of them should appeal some of you, even if none of them appeal to all of you. People who want to give money without restrictions can donate it directly to Lori, or send money to her vet and specify it is for the DMK ferrets. Or, you can give money to one of the shelters receiving ferrets from the rescue, or to that shelter's vet. Or, if you are not sure where the money is needed the most, or want your money to help several shelters, you can donate to SOS or the the IFC ELF Fund. Both SOS and the IFC are also qualifying not for profit organizations. And both SOS and the IFC are also involved in trying to raise money to help with this situation. So, instead of arguing over whether or not the AFA should put restrictions on who gets money from the AFA fund - just donate somewhere else if the standards are that bothersome to you. The AFA did not have to get involved, but chose to do so. For that, they should be thanked, not criticized. There are probably some shelters that will not qualify for money from the AFA fund. But there are certainly some shelters that will. So, money that goes to the AFA fund will help some of the ferrets, and with the size and scope of this effort, I doubt that there is going to be money left unused. [Part 2] Now, about the various testing methods... I will start by saying that no test is 100% accurate - none. That is why people are encouraged to test their ferrets for ADV more then once. Some tests are more accurate then others, but all of the tests that are currently available are fairly accurate. Each method of testing has its own set of pros and cons. The Quik Test is likely the least accurate of the testing methods. Because it is done at home, it is subject to error by the person running the test. As ferret owners and shelters, we receive no training on how to run the test, and while it is a simple test to run, there are ways to make errors and throw off the results. To get an accurate reading requires following the directions carefully. It also requires ensuring that the kit is not past its expiration date - a mistake that some have made in the past. A test kit that has past the expiration date may not give an accurate result. Finally - it is the test that is most easily falsified. There is no paper trail to ensure the test was even run. This last item is possibly the main reason the AFA is not accepting it. While records from other testing methods can also be faked, it is much more difficult to do so. The send away tests we normally associate with ADV are PCR, ELISA and CIEP (or CEP). Each of these tests refers to a testing technique, though, and can be run to test for a number of things - not just ADV. The PCR test, or polymerase chain reaction is the one test that checks for the actual virus. The PCR test can be used to detect any kind of DNA in a sample, and yields a simple positive or negative result. The PCR is not used only for ADV, and in fact, there are now PCR tests for AIDS that are commercially available. The PCR test for ADV is usually run on a fluid sample (urine, blood, saliva or feces). A negative PCR test does not mean that a ferret does not have ADV; just that it was not present in their fluids. With ADV, often the virus settles in the organs. When this happens, the ferret is not in a contagious state, because unless his organs are eaten by another animal, there is no way for the virus to move to another animal. But sometimes, in some ferrets, the virus moves into the bodily fluids, and can then be transmitted through the fluids to other ferrets. When a ferret's blood, saliva, feces or urine tests positive with a PCR test, then that ferret can transmit ADV to other animals. The PCR test could be very useful to ferret owners if it could be run in their vet's office, because it would let them know if a ferret that was ADV+ was contagious at that moment in time. Unfortunately, it is unlikely this will happen in the near future. To run it requires very expensive equipment, and a highly trained technician who is familiar with the procedure. Some of the commercial labs may decide to offer the test, but since there would be a lag time in getting the results, it may lose some of its meaning. The test would only tell you what was occurring at the time the sample was taken, and while it is unlikely the status changes rapidly (like overnight), it is possible. So, the PCR test is something that is more useful from just the research standpoint. It is important to remember that a negative PCR test does not mean a ferret does not have ADV, just that the virus is not present in the fluids at that time. A positive result is a conclusive proof that the ferret has ADV, though. For anyone interested in learning more about PCR testing, Wikipedia has a good write up on the technology and history of the test. Reading through their explanation of it may help you understand more about what results of this test mean. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction The CEP or CIEP test (Counterimmuneoelectrophoresis) is an antibody test. It tests for the presence of the proteins that the body makes to fight off an infection. A positive result from a CEP test means that specific antibodies are present in the blood. Although this can mean just that the body was exposed to the virus, my experience with ADV has been that a positive antibody test means the ferret actually has ADV. Certainly, if there are multiple positive test results over a period of time, that shows infection. Antibodies eventually break down, and so if they are present in the blood over a period of months, it means infection rather then just exposure. Again, Wikipedia has an explanation of the test, and how it is run. Unfortunately, their explanation is not as thorough as their explanation of PCR testing, though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_electrophoresis There is an interactive flash video that I found on the web that explains how an electrophoresis test is run and what it means. It takes a few minutes to go through it, but it explains things in easy to understand terms, and is even a little fun. Here is a link for anyone who is interested. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/biotech/gel/ An ELISA test, or Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, is another test that can be run to detect either the presence of antibodies or antigen (the actual virus). The ADV ELISA test that Avecon offers is an antibody test. The following general explanation of how an ELISA test is performed is taken from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELISA >In simple terms, in ELISA an unknown amount of antigen is affixed to >a surface, and then a specific antibody is washed over the surface so >that it can bind the antigen. This antibody is linked to an enzyme, >and in the final step a substance is added that the enzyme can convert >to some detectable signal. Thus in the case of flourescence ELISA, when >light is shone upon the sample, any antigen/antibody complexes will >fluoresce so that the amount of antigen in the sample can be measured. In addition to the above, Wikipedia also offers a step by step explanation of how the test is run. However, I think you can see that this is far more complicated then the Quik Test, and involves much more complex equipment. -- Danee DeVore International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator http://www.ferretcongress.org ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know! For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com You can help fight ADV! Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/ [Posted in FML 5757]