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'FIV Ab/FeLV Ag 2.0' Rapid diagnostic kit that measures the presence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus is set to enter the 5.3 billion USD worth global pet diagnostic market

Bionote announced on the 10th that they have received the Certificate of Free Sales ("CFS") from the Korea Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency for their 'FIV Ab/FeLV Ag 2.0' kit which can test the presence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus with one kit.

Through the CFS, Bionote has acquired the chance to target the global market as well as the domestic market. The pet diagnostic market is estimates to be worth 5.3 billion USD this year.

A Bionote spokesperson commented that "The biggest advantage of this new product is that the user is able to screen for the viruses with just a small amount of blood as sample, taking only 15 minutes" and that "By upgrading to version 2.0 from the original kit, we were able to reduce the number of samples required for the test, from two of the same sample to just one sample, making the test process more convenient for the user".

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a retrovirus that destroys a cat's immune system. It affects all animals in the cat family, and it's said around 2.5 - 4.4% of cats worldwide are infected. Routine testing for FIV seems to be needed because, depending on the region, around 1~14% of healthy cats is said to have tested positive for FIV antibodies and around 44% of unhealthy cats is said to have tested positive for FIV antibodies. 

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that weakens a cat's immune system. FeLV is divided into 4 subgroups; A, B, C, T and it's said to have infected between 2.5 - 7.5 % of cats in North America.

Of the two viruses, FIV is typically not fatal to cats, but as time passes, the virus will weaken the immune system of the cat, and this may lead to fatal secondary infection. FeLV is not fatal to cats as well, but it reduces the life expectancy of cats and is easily transmitted between cats, meaning FeLV positive cats must be quarantined with other FeLV positive cats.

Link: https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2022111013352912335