Table 4.

Summary of the study designs used in FIV prevalence studies in Australia

Reference	Details of study design
Sabine et al (1988)	Cross-sectional study using convenience based sampling of archived feline serum dating back to 1972, consisting of ‘normal’ cats (supplied by Webster's vaccine company), ‘sick’ cats (collected from Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, The University of Sydney), cats from the 1970s with naturally occurring lymphosarcoma and cats experimentally infected with FeLV in a previous study.
Belford et al (1989)	Cross-sectional study using convenience based sampling of cats with clinical or laboratory findings were suggestive of FIV infection and from cats in contact with known FIV-positive cats.
Robertson et al (1990)	Cross-sectional study of randomly selected healthy cats from households on the electoral roll in which the owner was prepared for their cat to be examined by a veterinarian and tested for FIV antibodies. In addition, cross-sectional study using convenience based sampling consisting of sick cats showing any evidence of clinical disease (not specifically suggestive of FIV) and for which blood had been submitted to Murdoch University Clinical Pathology Laboratory for diagnostic purposes.
Friend et al (1990)	Cross-sectional study using convenience based sampling of 467 feline serum samples from three sources: 357 samples from cats with suspected FeLV or immune deficiency submitted to the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDL; 334 samples) and the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at the University of Melbourne (CPLUM; 23 samples) and 110 samples collected in 1980 as part of a previous study on Chlamydophila psittaci from cats in an animal shelter, CVDL and CPLUM.
Thomas et al (1993)	Cross sectional study using convenience based sampling of ‘ill’ cats from blood submitted to a private laboratory. Samples were submitted by 150 veterinarians throughout Western Australia.
Malik et al (1997)	Cross-sectional study using convenience based sampling of 200 healthy cats >1 year of age presented to veterinary clinics in the area around Sydney, NSW, for routine procedures (including cat fight injuries or abscesses, vehicular trauma, neutering, dental scaling, vaccination, grooming or boarding) and 711 submissions to a private clinical pathology laboratory, from sick cats suspected of having immune dysfunction.
Winkler et al (1999)	Cross-sectional study using convenience based sampling of 389 stored serum samples from domestic cats of unknown health status, submitted to the Veterinary Pathology Services in Adelaide, South Australia as well as 66 serum samples from feral cats shot in the Flinders Range National Park, South Australia as part of an eradication campaign.