Note: This page was last updated in 2002, and after numerous discussions with my & the shelter's veterinarian, I've decided to no longer test. I will leave the info below for anyone that is interested in testing, and am happy to help you test if you live in the Pacific NW.

Leanna Aker has created a really informative page about the misconceptions that surround ADV. She and I feel similarly, so I'll let you visit her page to better understand why we don't test. Leanna's Page.

ADV - test for it.

The more information out there, the better.. So here we go with my experiences. Please see the links page if you want info on history, etc.

My vet quoted me $245 to pull blood for 7 ferrets. That was NOT including the cost of the tests, shipping or anything like that, it was just for the blood. They were also going to charge me $15 extra per ferret if they needed to knock anyone out.

Well, that's a bit too rich for my blood (pun intended!). So, rather than call around and see what other vets were charging, I decided to do this myself. It's a piece of cake.. And once you've done it & have the supplies it becomes even easier to do in the future.

All you need is a few drops of blood. I chose to not to play pin cushion with my kids, and opted to clip a back nail too short (snip the end of the little pink vein in the toenail). I put a little ferretone on their bellies, and they hardly even noticed. I then slapped some Qwik Stop on the bleeding toe and stuck 'em in the cage while it clotted. No problem.

Instead of $245, I paid roughly $52 when all was said & done for 3 tests sent to United. It would've been a little over $90 had I done everyone, which is a whopping dollar more than purchasing the Avecon tests. And I still have tons of supplies left over.

I purchased the supplies I needed from United Vaccines, Ph: 1-800-283-6465.

One vial of capillary tubes (200 tubes) $3.75
One mailer $.95
One clay board (to seal tubes) $3.75
Shipping $5.00

I then paid $26 for 3 tests, and about $12.50 for Next Day shipping. Woo.

Here's the flyer United puts out on how to do everything: Click Here. (It even has pictures :)

Tests are now $10 for the first & $8 for every test thereafter. Results are available 48hrs after they receive the shipment.

With the recent stuff coming out about Avecon's tests, I'd go for the United, personally. But it's completely up to you. Here's the info anyway & you can go read up.

Avecon Diagnostics:

ELISA test (blood or saliva)
http://www.avecon.com/advabelisa.html
$12 / test (saliva or blood)
$10 / test for batches of 10 or more

Quickchek POCT
http://www.avecon.com/qcadv.html
For 1-4 tests, $15 / test
5-99, $12 / test

My kids?

On 2/11/02 I ordered seven POCTs from Avecon. They arrived on 2/13/02. Ozzy, Gizmo, Dook, Nilla, Orion, Baloo & Kamikaze all tested negative the same evening.

On 3/17/02 I spot checked 3 of the above with blood samples sent off to United. On 3/20/02 the results were in with Giz, Baloo & Stoli being negative. I chose Gizmo because there was some smearing on his POCT test, Baloo because he chomped the POCT swab & wouldn't let go (making the collection of saliva somewhat difficult) and Stoli because he's new. That's a third of the crew here now.

Tested the other 5 (Ozzy, Dook, Vanilla, Orion, Kaze) on 4/15 and got a call early 4/18 saying everybody's negative from United. Very cool!

Brando, Sophia and Cyrano's tests were mailed off on 5/20. The phone call to say everyone's neg came on 5/24. Good things, good things. :)

I will continue to periodically check using United - it'll be easy now since I have all the supplies. :)