Unbelievable - you really won't believe!

mrjinx · Jan 2, 2012

So I think Mr. Jinx's first name should be Miraculous, because you won't believe this!

As you may know, I brought Jinx in on Thanksgiving and he's been meandering into the hearts of the household ever since. He's doing great, but when he was tested for everything, he tested positive for FIV twice (both an ELISA) with two different vets who wanted to do an initial test.

Our vet recommended a western blot or IFA, but we just couldn't afford it all during the holidays, since Jinx's bills were already in the 700s for his everything. So we said we'd have to do it another time, and I basically conceded that he probably did have it since he was missing his teeth from fights, etc - everything added up. So I read up on everything and figured we'd do our best with keeping him as healthy as possible for however long he has (vet thinks he's somewhere between 6 and 10 yrs).

So today I called the vet because one of the meds for his giardia is intolerable for him, and I wanted to switch it to pills. DH called while I drove, and yes, no problem re: the pills, and asked if we heard what happened.

Long story very short, the vet tech thought we'd approved the Western Blot and paid for it, so he sent Jinx's blood work by accident!! They ran the test - HE'S NEGATIVE!!!!!!

I can't believe it! There is just no way he had the vaccine (he wasn't even neutered), and he's definitely more than 6 months, so I have no idea what caused a false positive, but there you go! We're SO THRILLED right now.

feralvr · Jan 2, 2012

WELLLLLL - I guess you just started your NEW YEAR out pretty darn great :woohoo:

... I am SOOOO happy to hear this and how incredibly lucky for you that the vet tech made that error in your favor!!! OH MY Gosh - two great thing's all at once - the free Western Blot test AND even greater that it was NEGATIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :jump:

YAY for Mr. Jinx - that's a miracle :heart3: :heart3: :clap:

rafm · Jan 2, 2012

I'm so happy he's negative!!! I'm sure that was a HUGE relief

mrjinx · Jan 2, 2012

LOL I think I'm still in shock! I've been harassing him with cuddles and kisses all evening.

I am going to the vet tomorrow to exchange the Interferon and the liquid giardia med with the pills, and I think I may need to hear all this in person to believe it!

It's such a miracle! I have no idea what could have caused the false positive, so I'll ask, but another part of me doesn't care! LOL

StefanZ · Jan 2, 2012

Feralvr said:
WELLLLLL - I guess you just started your NEW YEAR out pretty darn great

... I am SOOOO happy to hear this and how incredibly lucky for you that the vet tech made that error in your favor!!! OH MY Gosh - two great thing's all at once - the free Western Blot test AND even greater that it was NEGATIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY for Mr. Jinx - that's a miracle

And also the principal, the vet, didnt get sour and tried to charge YOU after all... Because now THEY did paid. It was nothing they could do for free because it was just their own time. A check up or even surgery they can sometimes do for free if they want, as it is their own time. A lab analysis done externally they must pay for.

But perhaps this was no stupid mistake, perhaps they wanted to help you, but they cant say so openly?

jcat · Jan 3, 2012

What great news! I've heard of false positives before, but after two of them, you really wouldn't expect to learn differently. Third time lucky!

goonie · Jan 3, 2012

that same thing happenend to a friend who adopted a stray. tested positive on the ELISA and negative on the Western Blot. it seems to happen a lot. also any cat vaccinated against FIV will test false positive. i don't think the vaccine does much of any good anyway.

feralvr · Jan 4, 2012

StefanZ said:
A lab analysis done externally they must pay for.
But perhaps this was no stupid mistake, perhaps they wanted to help you, but they cant say so openly?

YES - this is true. Every blood test I have ever had done on my cat's had to be paid for up front - It is a wonderful thought, Stefan :nod:....... :hugs:

Either way - I am still blown away on this one AND SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy :happy3: :jump:

mrjinx · Jan 4, 2012

Thanks everyone SO much!

I went to the vet yesterday to pick up those pills for Jinxy's giardia and talked to our vet. He said it was definitely a vet tech error, but he was so happy about it - I do wonder if he did send it out for us "by mistake" because he knew we really did want to do it - however, Jinx's bills were so very high at that time. In any case, I asked him what he thought the likelihood of Jinx having a false positive based on vaccine, and even he thought it was so unlikely that Jinx ever had one. He did say something about certain proteins that could come up and give a false positive, but he said he'd verify it with the pathologist to be sure. So interesting though!

ldg · Jan 5, 2012

HOW did I miss this??????????? :woohoo:

Oh that is just FABULOUS news!

My understanding is that the ELISA (snap) tests register false positives about 30% of the time. :nod: I don't know what causes them... but they're pretty darn common! But STILL... after TWO of them....

Just :woohoo:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol3:

mrjinx · Jan 6, 2012

Ha thank you!!! I know, I was really really shocked! In a good way. Still have no idea what the heck could've caused it, but I know the other test is pretty much on target, so... was ready to take good care of him either way, it was just such a good thing to find out.

Here are some new pics of the little guy. You can see his eye looks better, but isn't gone. The vet gave him some drops but told me what I was doing was just as good, so it's my choice. I may just give him the drops for a week to reduce more swelling.

He now walks all over the house, and has slept in my husband's closet many times. He's still afraid of him, but he's sometimes willing to come out sometimes with DH around. I give him alone time whenever he seems stressed out by closing his safe room for a few hours, as he's still adjusting, but he's doing great!

just mike · Jan 6, 2012

WOW !! Your 2012 started out with a bang

What a load off your shoulders this must be. And I am soooo glad he tested negative

mrjinx · Jan 7, 2012

Thank you!!

It's been days and I still can't believe it!

feralvr · Jan 7, 2012

Thank you for posting pictures of Mr. jinx :clap:

Wow look at those tomcat cheeks..... He is a gorgeous, handsome boy :clap:

..... I am so glad he is adjusting so well :happy3:

mrjinx · Jan 7, 2012

The vet also said he had perfect tommy cheeks! They are HUGE! He is just recently became okay with me petting him under the cheeks and mouth.

Tonight DH fed Mr. Jinx some turkey, his favorite. Jinx ate from his hand and rubbed his back, even though he was a bit scared still. I told DH we should do it daily so he knows it's a routine, and soon he won't be scared of him anymore. So that's what we're doing.

I really think Mr. Jinx is a blessing. 12 years ago I had a cat who I was exceptionally close to. I had had him since I was 17 and he was absolutely the love of my life. He was the most affectionate little guy ever - if you picked him up, he would wrap his paws around your neck and push his head against you, hugging. We had a very special connection, and he died suddenly of pancreatic cancer. I was very devastated and a part of me never got past it. I've had many other cats and loved (and love) them all dearly, but I had never had another as affectionate as that boy.

When I first saw Mr. Jinx frightened and running in the yard, I said to DH, "I know for a fact there's a very affectionate kitty under all that fear." I just knew. And I was so right - this is the kitty that reminds me of my little angel who passed. He is so so cuddly and affectionate. He kisses constantly and loves to rub noses and faces. He leans against me and places his head under my neck and just sits there forever, purring. He sleeps on my lap and kneads and drools. He does not care so much about playing, he just loves to love.

I have worked with many feral cats (I even volunteered at cat shelters helping them get adopted), and I've never come across one that is so incredibly affectionate. He is really special.

jtbo · Jan 7, 2012

jcat said:
What great news! I've heard of false positives before, but after two of them, you really wouldn't expect to learn differently. Third time lucky!

Bit puzzled here, if two is positive and one is negative, then probability by numbers is still positive, that is if there was three tests in total and two test positive one negative it would still be 2:1 to positive, that is if all test have equal credibility. Of course if test that found him negative is better, more accurate test it then adds more weight to that and can make situation 1:1 or even more to side of negative.

I really hope that he really is negative, but if all test have equal credibility then I would think that 4th test would be needed to be absolutely sure as error probability can work both ways and as it seems to be that there are possibilities of errors in these tests.

feralvr · Jan 8, 2012

mrjinx said:
The vet also said he had perfect tommy cheeks! They are HUGE! He is just recently became okay with me petting him under the cheeks and mouth.

Tonight DH fed Mr. Jinx some turkey, his favorite. Jinx ate from his hand and rubbed his back, even though he was a bit scared still. I told DH we should do it daily so he knows it's a routine, and soon he won't be scared of him anymore. So that's what we're doing.

I really think Mr. Jinx is a blessing. 12 years ago I had a cat who I was exceptionally close to. I had had him since I was 17 and he was absolutely the love of my life. He was the most affectionate little guy ever - if you picked him up, he would wrap his paws around your neck and push his head against you, hugging. We had a very special connection, and he died suddenly of pancreatic cancer. I was very devastated and a part of me never got past it. I've had many other cats and loved (and love) them all dearly, but I had never had another as affectionate as that boy.

When I first saw Mr. Jinx frightened and running in the yard, I said to DH, "I know for a fact there's a very affectionate kitty under all that fear." I just knew. And I was so right - this is the kitty that reminds me of my little angel who passed. He is so so cuddly and affectionate. He kisses constantly and loves to rub noses and faces. He leans against me and places his head under my neck and just sits there forever, purring. He sleeps on my lap and kneads and drools. He does not care so much about playing, he just loves to love.

I have worked with many feral cats (I even volunteered at cat shelters helping them get adopted), and I've never come across one that is so incredibly affectionate. He is really special.

AWWWW - hun - :touch: That is SO very special, your words. Mr. Jinx is an angel :angel:

then, a little blessing

So happy for all of you.

ruthyb · Jan 9, 2012

Wow hun,so sorry I missed this,I am really pleased for you.xx

mrjinx · Jan 10, 2012

Thank you everyone!

And yes, the ELISAs aren't as accurate as the next round of testing, which is why they recommend testing with the more accurate, more expensive tests once the ELSA comes up positive.

Jinx is doing really well as we gear up for the big move. DH has been doing routine turkey with him daily, and it's really working! They're becoming friends, which will make the move so much easier!

Hopefully he adjusts well, and the house is smaller which I think he'll like so much more. Crossing my fingers.

speakhandsforme · Jan 10, 2012

(Always wanted to use that one :lol3

Unbelievable - you really won't believe!

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