American Ferret Association: ADV Policy

ADV Policy

ADV Policy in Effect for All AFA Sanctioned and Sponsored Shows
Last Updated : September, 2002

The American Ferret Association is extremely concerned about the dangers of Aleutian Disease Virus (ADV), a communicable parvo virus that affects ferrets. To promote the safety of ferrets at shows and events, and to help educate the public about this serious virus, the AFA began requiring testing for ADV with the Holiday Ferret Expo on December 8, 2001. For all AFA sanctioned shows contracted after October 1, 2001, the following ADV policy is in effect as a requirement for entrance to shows by exhibitors and their ferrets. Learn more about what ADV is and what testing options are available.

ADV POLICY

All ferrets at an AFA show must provide proof of negative Aleutian's Disease Virus (ADV) testing within six months of the show date. Testing must be by the United CEP Test or the Avecon ELISA (saliva) Test and results must be:

on tester's original letterhead;
testing date must be on the letter and within the stated period;
ferret names must be on the testing result's letter and names mus match show entry.

→ Avecon Point of Care Tests (POCT instant tests) are NOT ACCEPTABLE.
→ A letter from your vet is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
→ Faxes or copies are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Notarized copies with raised seal are acceptable.

ADV Waiver Statement

The following waiver must be signed by each person bringing ferrets into an AFA show hall. (Forms are available in the show packet for each AFA event).

No ferret that I am bringing with me into the show hall today has ever had a definitive positive test result on the United CEP or Avecon ELISA saliva test (POCT and ELISA blood tests are not acceptable).

If in the past 4 months a ferret from my household (shelter/facility/ferretry) has had a definitive positive test result on the United CEP or Avecon ELISA saliva test (POCT and ELISA blood tests are not acceptable), I understand that all ferrets in the same household (shelter/facility/ferretry) are considered as being exposed. I also understand that I can not show or bring any ferrets from said household into the show hall today, regardless of their testing status.

I also understand that just because all ferrets in the show hall today have been tested for ADV within the six months prior to the show, that this is not a guarantee of safety. I understand that the test is only as good as the day it was taken and I still need to practice SAFE FERRET habits at all times.

Questions can be directed to afa@ferret.org.

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