American Cervid Alliance

Cervid TB Blood Test Temporarily Unavailable

April 14, 2014

From the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service:

Due to an unexpectedly high number of requests to test cervid serum samples for bovine tuberculosis (TB) this spring, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has exhausted its supply of ChemBio DPP test kits. The kits are on back order and the manufacturer anticipates that they will be available in early May.

We anticipate an interruption of about 4 weeks for DPP testing at NVSL. Serum samples can still be submitted to NVSL during this time, but they will be frozen and tested when the kits are available.

If testing is needed for movement prior to DPP kits being available again, traditional skin testing may be conducted. Otherwise, veterinarians should indicate on the APHIS 10-4 submission form that the testing is for movement, and those frozen samples will be prioritized when DPP tests resume.  If testing is needed for herd reaccreditation, timing of the accreditation will be based on the date the samples are received at NVSL, not the date the test is run.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Questions about submitted samples may be directed to Dr. Jeff Nelson, NVSL, at 515-337-7563 or Jeffrey.T.Nelson@aphis.usda.gov; questions about herd reaccreditation or movement to Dr. Owen Henderson, VS Cervid Staff, at 970-494-7317 or Owen.L.Henderson@aphis.usda.gov.

 


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