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What to expect from what I hope is a false positive TB test

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BJ WESTFALL

Joined Sep 2011
19 Posts | 0+
Higbee, Missouri USA
I recently had my herd tb and bruc tested. Blood was drawn for the tb. My local vet called today and said that one tested positive (used some other terms that I don't remember) and said that I would hear from the state vet with in 30 days and that she would be tested again, but by the state this time. My local vet said that there was a high percentage chance that she would test negitive the second time. What should I expect? He also said that if she tested positive this time, then there may be a possibility that the state would buy her???? Any help or advise would be appreciated.



BJ Westfall
 
BJ i am almost positive she will probably test positive for the Avian strain which is very normal and not of a concern basically meaning she would test negative..........I would not lose any sleep over it.....the biggest pain is the State vet will have to come out and test her again meaning puttting her through the stress two more times.....it's all a bunch of crap if you ask me...and an unneccessary stress on the Whitetails.......hope this helps....good luck! Bj....I reread your post and saw that you had the new blood test for the TB...I apologize as I am only used to doing the old style skin test......I still would not worry as I am sure everything will test out just fine!!
 
Thanks, I guess this time it will be the scratch test (shave the neck)? My big concern is by the time they call in 30 day, it will be getting close to fawning season. That is my biggest concern.



BJ
 
BJ It will be the Blood test again. As you can't switch to the Skin Test after you initiate the blood test.
 
BJ, i ahve heard of several folks having the same problem! I have also been told by several folks the best way to avoid a Positive animal is to..............Apply a LIBERAL amount of Rubbing Alcohol to the are the blood is drawn from this cleanses the area of any foreign substance from having an effect on the Test!



Best of luck and keep us posted on how you get along!
 
Thanks Guys,

Lets assume they are coming exactly 30days from now, what are your opinions on darting this doe and doing the test. This will be close (two weeks or so) to fawning.



BJ
 
Ask your vet to show you how they came to the fact that she was indeed positive. Is it still by the chart method (used for skin testing) or do they do something new? If it is the chart method like before, ask for a copy of the chart and make sure it is the correct chart. We had an issue and when it was all said and done, we lost a good doe and the state had used the wrong chart. She was false and not positive. And of course, the state had no money for their mistake!
 
As I understand it, the 30 days is the minimum wait and that it can be longer. You are quarantined until the second test is completed. If you have no problem being quarantined for a longer period, it will only benefit you to wait (this is straight from our Vet, who is very good on deer). If you have deer to move, then you have to decide if you want to go ahead and retest her or wait until she has the fawns. If you don't have deer to move, wait until she weans her fawns or is several weeks into feeding them before you test her.
 
Thanks for the advise



I was hoping we would be allowed to wait. I guess we will wait and see. She was a deer we recently purchased and was already tested negative before. Don't know why she would all of a sudden be positive. I was told that see had to be tested again to get cycled with our current herd.



BJ
 
BJ, if that is what you were told, you were told wrong. As long as that doe came from a TB and Brucellosis accredited herd, she is to be accepted into your herd and is absolutely not required to be tested outside of your regular whole herd test date. We have added deer to our herd numerous times and never have been required to test an animal other than at our whole herd test. That is the whole idea of being accredited, so no additional testing is required. Please check into this because as long as that doe came from an accredited herd, you are not required to do any additional testing.
 
This was our first test to get herd accreditation, if that makes a difference. We are basically starting over after a bad EHD year and getting right with Missouri's new regs. We had never moved a deer out of Missouri before so never tested for tb or bruc. In rebuilding, we bought two bred doe from an accredited herd. The quarratine makes no difference now as we have no plans to move deer anytime soon.



Thanks BJ
 
I wouldn't worry to much about that second test . If it were my doe and she was somewhat used to the chute , I'd get her tested asap and just get it over with but thats just me . I don't like things hanging over my head like that for a period of time , but then I'd be using a chute not sure if you have one or not . I have always ran my deer back in after a false positive within 10 days or so and I actually thought here in Wi I had only 10 days but that was for the old skin test too the new blood test may be different . I'd get her done , get your accredidation and sleep better knowing it was over but there too I always test in early March . ! Just my opinion though .
 
After years of Tb testing, having two facilities we have twice as many test to do. We do over 100 animals on each facility. We have had many suspects and have had animals react to skin chart as reactors. They have all cleared, I know first time it was a major issue of worring and etc. From someone that has been in the middle of same thing over the years. Hang in there and I'm sure everything will clear itself out.
 
Oklahoma state vet told me a couple mounths they would start using the blood test I was pretty happy (less stress) I talked to my vet (that will be doing the tb testing) just yesterday and he told me they would not be doing this test due to too many false positives and with more than 2 positive test (even false ) and heard would lose certs has anyone else heard of this
 
Charlie i did the blood test this year and it worked great for me since i didnt have a shoot. Also I used BAM for the testing and that stuff works great. Highly recommend
 
Our vet and State inspector is telling us if we use the blood test and one is positive we have to kill the animal for further testing! I see from posts above that doesn't seem to be true! Who should I have them call to get the right information? I would think our State Inspector would have the right information since he works for the Board of Animal Health directly!
 

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