Private gamma blood tests to diagnose TB are being offered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
As part of new cattle measures to help achieve TB freedom, from yesterday (6 April) farmers in England can now submit blood samples for TB testing to an APHA laboratory at their own expense, via a private veterinarian and with prior APHA approval.
The private blood test will be available in a limited number of scenarios outside of the government-funded testing programme, where farmers seek additional assurances as to the TB-free status of their animals.
This will provide additional TB test options to farmers wanting to check and monitor the health of their cattle or those they are planning to purchase.
Cattle not eligible for private blood testing include cattle from herds under restriction undergoing government interferon gamma blood testing, skin-test positive and other cattle awaiting slaughter for TB control purposes and animals in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland at the time of testing.
Herds under restrictions for overdue tuberculin skin tests and cattle that are under 6 months of age are also ineligible.
Farmers and private veterinarians are being advised to contact their regional APHA office for more information.
