TB Testing

ashlingm

Can anyone explain how this works? Im doing a project and have to write about it but im completely clueless about the whole thing!

Thanks

theroad

Google "bovine tb"; you'll find all the information you could wish for, and more besides. The UK DEFRA site looks informative. Try also "bovine tb site:.ie" for information from Ireland. There's a DAFF page on the disease.

Feargal as Luimneach

ashlingm wrote: »

Can anyone explain how this works? Im doing a project and have to write about it but im completely clueless about the whole thing!

Thanks

The vet is testing to detect Bovine TB. Cattle can get avian Tb which is harmless to them but it crossreacts in TB test with bovine TB.
The vets injects avian tuberculin ( protein from the TB bacterium) intradermally into the neck top injection site on neck. The vet also injects bovine tuberculin intradermally into the lower injection site.
If the beast has either TB a delayed hypersensitivity reaction occurs at the injection site and a lump forms. Since you get crossreacting from either TB, a positive result is obtained when you get a relative +4 millimetre increase in the bovine tuberculin injection site. An inconclusive result is obtained when you get +2 to +3 mm relativeincrease in the bovine site.

Alibear

I did my work experience with a vet over Easter, so there was plenty of testing at that time; Feargal explained the procedure correctly