Once all brucellosis tests are completed, AFBI can use these blood samples to screen
for diseases, where instructed by the owner or the Private Veterinary Practitioner to do so.
- The
veterinary practice or the herd owner should contact AFBI-Veterinary Sciences Division Diagnostic Unit
in advance of submitting the samples. Telephone 02890 525649. Alternatively, you can send an email to
cattlehealthscheme@afbini.gov.uk
- The blood sample taken
by the Department will
be sufficient to carry out the extra testing, providing it has a reasonable amount of blood.
- A
Cattle Health Scheme (CHS) submission form 1
must be completed and signed by the vet and herd owner for CHS members. For non members, a Farm
Animal Submission Form signed by the vet will be necessary. Both forms are available for downloading
at www.afbini.gov.uk.
- The veterinary practice should fax
a copy of the completed submission form to the diagnostic unit. Fax 02890 525730.
- The
submission form should accompany the samples to the Brucella laboratory. This will
help lab staff identifying the samples as needing further testing.
- Ask the
blood tester to mark the paperwork and the box as needing further testing.ce should
then fax a copy of the completed submission form 1 to
028 90525730
- Care should be taken to ensure that all samples needed have been
collected, as only animals over 12 months will be sampled for brucellosis testing.
- Samples
can be used to test for BVDV, Johne’s (samples should be taken on the first day of the TB test), Infectious
Bovine Rhinotracheitis (for herds using marker vaccine, the test IBR gE marker vaccine should be requested),
Leptospirosis, Neospora etc.
Once the samples have completed all the
Brucella tests, they will be transferred to VSD’s Diagnostic Unit, where they will be tested as soon
as possible.
Samples will not be tested until a submission form has been received.
A
report with the results will be sent to the veterinary practitioner.
