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Feline Calicivirus (FCV) RT-PCR

Feline Calicivirus (FCV) RT-PCR

Feline calicivirus RT-PCR looks for the genetic material of feline calicivirus on a throat swab. It can help your vet confirm a common cause of cat flu, mouth ulcers and sore gums in cats.

Sample
Oropharyngeal swab
Quantity
As advised
Report
Confirmed when you book
Collection
Free in Bhopal

What this test checks

  • Feline calicivirus RNA on a swab from the back of a cat's throat
  • Whether FCV may explain mouth ulcers, drooling, sneezing or sore gums

When your vet may advise it

  • Ulcers on the tongue or gums, drooling or not eating because of mouth pain
  • Sneezing, eye discharge and fever in a kitten or a cat from a shelter
  • Long-lasting red, sore gums and mouth inflammation in a cat
  • A cat flu outbreak in a home with many cats, a cattery or a shelter

About this test

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a virus that spreads easily between cats, mostly by direct contact and shared bowls. It causes sneezing, eye and nose discharge, fever and painful ulcers on the tongue, gums and roof of the mouth, so cats may drool and stop eating. Some kittens also limp for a short while. Because FCV carries its genes as RNA, the test first turns the RNA into DNA (the RT, or reverse transcription, step) and then copies it by PCR. Some cats carry the virus for long periods without signs, and vaccines may be picked up. A registered veterinarian reads the result with your cat's signs and vaccination history.

How to prepare

Your vet rubs a swab at the back of your cat's throat. Tell the vet about recent vaccination and any mouth or eye medicines. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.

Questions about Feline Calicivirus (FCV) RT-PCR

Can a vaccinated cat test positive for calicivirus?
Yes, it can. Some vaccines can be detected by RT-PCR for a while, and vaccinated cats can still catch other strains of the virus. Your vet uses your cat's signs and vaccination history to judge what a positive result means.
Does a negative calicivirus test mean my cat is free of the virus?
Not always. The amount of virus on the swab can be low, especially later in the illness, so a negative result does not fully rule FCV out. If the signs still fit, your vet may repeat the swab or test for other causes of cat flu.

Before you book this test

Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.

  • Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
  • What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
  • The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
  • Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
  • Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.

Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.

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