Methods to be used in the framework of the AR BVD

Notes

• Each laboratorium, veterinarian or farmer is obliged to notify the FAVV/AFSCA when a positive result is obtained with a virological test performed with a method which does not appear in this list, or with an uncertified kit or batch.
• The suspension obtained after incubation of ear notch samples with IDEXX Ag ELISA soaking buffer may not be used as a matrix in RT-PCR.
• * The analytical sensitivity of approved RT-qPCR test kits allows mathematically to test larger pool sizes. To meet the requirements of acceptable quality of testing within a quality management system for (non-)automated sample preparation, not more than 50 full blood or serum samples, or 25 ear notches are allowed per pool.
  In case any lab wants to increase the allowed pool size when exclusively testing samples from officially “unsuspicious herds”, an internal validation of the technical and automated process of pooling must be done. Additionally, for blood and serum samples, it must be ensured that at least 5 µl of each specimen is put into each pool when increasing the pool size to a maximum of 100 samples.