Evaluation of a new in-clinic test system to detect feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus infection.
BACKGROUND
Many in-house tests for the diagnosis of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection are licensed for use in veterinary practice. A new test with unknown performance has recently appeared on the market.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to define the efficacy of a new in-clinic test system, the Anigen Rapid FIV Ab/FeLV Ag Test, and to compare it with the current leading in-clinic test, the SNAP Kombi Plus FeLV Antigen/FIB Antibody Test.


METHODS
Three-hundred serum samples from randomly selected healthy and diseased cats presented to the Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University were tested using both the Anigen Rapid Test and the SNAP Kombi Plus Test. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for both tests using Western blot as the gold standard for verification of FIV infection and PCR as the gold standard for FeLV infection.


RESULTS
The presence of antibodies against FIV was confirmed by Western blot in 9/300 samples (prevalence 3%). FeLV DNA was detected by PCR in 15/300 samples (prevalence 5%). For FIV infection the Anigen Rapid Test had a sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity of 99.7%, positive predictive value of 88.9%, and negative predictive value of 99.7%. For FeLV infection, the Anigen Rapid Test had a sensitivity of 40.0%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 96.9%. Diagnostic accuracy was similar to that of the SNAP Kombi Plus Test.


CONCLUSIONS
The new Anigen Rapid FIV Ab/FeLV Ag Test performed very well and can be recommended for use in veterinary practice.
Sand
Christina
C
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Englert
Theresa
T
Egberink
Herman
H
Lutz
Hans
H
Hartmann
Katrin
K
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D002415:Cats / Q000821:virology; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic