I received this info on TB testing today if anyone is interested. TB Blood Test!
If you are scheduled to TB test your "Elk, Reindeer, or Whitetails" this winter, please contact Shawn Schafer, 651-212-1315 [email protected]
As I travel throughout the industry, I am often asked about the status of a blood test for TB. I will have an article in our next NADeFA Magazine that will explain the details further, but the short story is that we are working with USDA in the final process to add a blood test to the TB Eradication Program for Cervids. For several years we have been providing blood to the research lab to be used in development and licensing of new tests. There are several companies that have blood tests that look very promising, and one such test from Chembio (StatPak) has been licensed and is now in the final stage of being approved as an official program test.
This process involves a field trial comparing it to the skin test (SCT) presently used during TB Accreditation and Reaccreditation. We are hopeful that we can get enough herds to participate from around the country to give us enough data this winter, that we will be able to move ahead with the rule change process next fall.
The species they are focusing on this year are those that have significant amounts of serum presently held in the blood bank that can be included in this trial. Those three species are Elk, Reindeer and Whitetails. If you are scheduled to TB test any of these species in the next few months and would like to assist in replacing the Skin Test, please contact Shawn Schafer, 651-212-1315 [email protected] for more details (the cost will be covered by USDA).
It is my goal to replace the skin test for all cervids. If you are going to be testing other species, please contact me as well and I will arrange for materials to be provided to your veterinarian so you can provide serum samples to the USDA Blood Bank for future validations.
Shawn Schafer
If you are scheduled to TB test your "Elk, Reindeer, or Whitetails" this winter, please contact Shawn Schafer, 651-212-1315 [email protected]
As I travel throughout the industry, I am often asked about the status of a blood test for TB. I will have an article in our next NADeFA Magazine that will explain the details further, but the short story is that we are working with USDA in the final process to add a blood test to the TB Eradication Program for Cervids. For several years we have been providing blood to the research lab to be used in development and licensing of new tests. There are several companies that have blood tests that look very promising, and one such test from Chembio (StatPak) has been licensed and is now in the final stage of being approved as an official program test.
This process involves a field trial comparing it to the skin test (SCT) presently used during TB Accreditation and Reaccreditation. We are hopeful that we can get enough herds to participate from around the country to give us enough data this winter, that we will be able to move ahead with the rule change process next fall.
The species they are focusing on this year are those that have significant amounts of serum presently held in the blood bank that can be included in this trial. Those three species are Elk, Reindeer and Whitetails. If you are scheduled to TB test any of these species in the next few months and would like to assist in replacing the Skin Test, please contact Shawn Schafer, 651-212-1315 [email protected] for more details (the cost will be covered by USDA).
It is my goal to replace the skin test for all cervids. If you are going to be testing other species, please contact me as well and I will arrange for materials to be provided to your veterinarian so you can provide serum samples to the USDA Blood Bank for future validations.
Shawn Schafer
