Materials and methods
Serum samples
The study was performed at the Department of
Small Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
Serum samples were obtained from 536 randomly
selected cats. These cats were examined
and treated for a variety of diseases or tested
routinely before vaccination at the Teaching Hospital
of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of Georgia, Athens, USA. Serum was
separated within 30 min after blood sampling.
Tests were performed either immediately or
serum was frozen at 70C and thawed directly
before use. According to the manufacturers’
instructions, haemolysis, freezing and thawing
as well as storing (up to 3 days) in the refrigerator
do not interfere with the results.
Samples reacting FIV-positive in one or more
of the tests were evaluated by Western blot analysis;
samples reacting FeLV-positive in one or
more of the tests were evaluated by virus isolation.
In addition, a random selection of samples
testing negative in all test systems was re-tested
by Western blot (100 samples) and by virus isolation
(81 samples).