Nashville lab now testing for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) persistently infected (PI) animals
Tennessee Department of Agriculture - Animal Health

The Kord Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is now offering a serologic test for the detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) persistently infected (PI) animals in a herd. This test utilizes enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methodology and can detect BVDV antigen in either serum samples or ear notch biopsy samples from BVDV PI animals. The sample of choice for this assay is either serum or a “fresh” ear notch biopsy. Only serum samples from pre-colostral newborn calves or calves older than three months of age are suitable for testing while ear notch samples may be collected from animals of all ages, including calves younger than three months of age. Unlike immunohistochemical methods, the ear notch biopsy must be submitted as a “fresh” sample and not be placed in formalin. Funding for this procedure is being provided on a temporary basis, although the allocated funds should support testing for the near future. Please contact the lab (phone: 615-837-5125) if you have questions regarding these services. It is especially helpful to contact the laboratory in advance where whole herd testing will result in greater than 50 specimens being submitted.

This announcement was taken from the October 2005 issue of TDA Animal Health Newsletter ...

http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/regulate/animals/newsletter.pdf