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Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) RT-PCR

Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) RT-PCR

FHV-1 RT-PCR looks for the DNA of feline herpesvirus type 1 on a swab from a cat's eye or throat. It can help your vet confirm a common cause of cat flu, eye discharge and sores on the surface of the eye.

Sample
Conjunctival or oropharyngeal swab
Quantity
As advised
Report
Confirmed when you book
Collection
Free in Bhopal

What this test checks

  • Feline herpesvirus type 1 DNA on a swab from the eye lining or the back of the throat
  • Whether FHV-1 may explain sneezing, eye discharge or sores on the eye surface

When your vet may advise it

  • A cat or kitten with sneezing, a runny nose and red, watery eyes
  • Eye ulcers or eye inflammation that keep coming back
  • Several cats in a home, cattery or shelter showing cat flu signs
  • Cat flu signs that do not settle as your vet expects

About this test

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) causes feline viral rhinotracheitis, one of the main forms of cat flu. Signs include sneezing, a runny nose, red and watery eyes, eye discharge, fever and poor appetite. It can also cause ulcers, which are sores on the clear front of the eye. After infection, the virus can hide in the nerves for life and flare up with stress. PCR detects virus DNA on the swab. Healthy carriers and some vaccines can also give a positive, and virus release (shedding) comes and goes, so a negative does not always rule it out. A registered veterinarian interprets the result with your cat's signs.

How to prepare

Your vet swabs the pink lining of the eye or the back of the throat. Mention any recent vaccination and any eye drops used. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.

Questions about Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) RT-PCR

Can a healthy cat test positive for feline herpesvirus?
Yes. Many cats keep the virus hidden in their nerves after an infection and release it now and then, often after stress. Some vaccines can also be picked up by PCR. This is why your vet reads a positive result together with your cat's signs and vaccination history.
Is FHV-1 PCR the same as a cat flu test?
It is one part of cat flu testing. Cat flu can be caused by feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, Chlamydia felis and some bacteria, so your vet may ask for FHV-1 PCR alone or within a wider breathing panel. The exact list in any panel is confirmed when you book.

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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Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) RT-PCR

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Ready to get your animal tested?

Book online in two minutes. We collect the sample free of charge anywhere in Bhopal, or you can send it from any district of Madhya Pradesh.

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