Defra, UK - Animal health & welfare

PCR samples must be submitted using the Pirbright Bluetongue PCR Sample Submission Form (PDF) (21 KB).
ELISA samples must be submitted using the VLA Bluetongue ELISA Sample Submission Form (PDF 190 KB).
Any samples submitted not using these forms will not be tested for Bluetongue.
No tests other than for Bluetongue will be carried out on samples submitted using this form.
If tests for diseases other than Bluetongue are required to be performed on the animal, please supply additional sample(s) and submit them using the appropriate submission forms. Available from the VLA website at and Pirbright website.

For antibody ELISA testing please provide one 7ml clotted blood sample (red top tube) per animal tested. This must be provided in a bar-coded tube.
For PCR testing please provide one 7 or 10 ml EDTA sample, (purple top tube) per animal tested. Please use bar-coded tubes if available. Important - mix the tube well by gentle inversion immediately after taking the sample.
A copy of the bar code must be affixed to the submission form alongside the animal’s unique identification number.
Any sample not complying with these requirements will not be tested.
All samples must be sent to the address on the submission form, not to a VLA Regional Laboratory.
Samples for PCR testing must be sent to IAH Pirbright and samples for antibody ELISA testing must be sent to VLA (Weybridge). Please write ‘Bluetongue samples’ clearly on the outside to the box containing the samples.
Please ensure that the samples are packed in the same order in the box as they are on the submission form.

All samples will be tested according to the appropriate approved Pirbright and VLA testing protocol.
At the end of the testing process samples will be classified as either ‘negative’, ‘positive’ or ‘inconclusive’ (or ‘unsuitable for testing’).

The laboratory cost of a Bluetongue PCR test will be £15 per sample tested.
The laboratory cost of a Bluetongue ELISA test will be £2.95 per sample tested.
This includes the cost of up to two re-tests, if required, as defined in the approved testing protocol.

The minimum test turnaround for both ELISA and PCR is 4 working days. This allows for the necessity for re-testing, under the approved protocol, in those cases where this is required.
Test turnaround time is the time taken from receipt of the sample at the laboratory to the reporting of the result to the submitting veterinary surgeon. This does not include the time in transit to the laboratory.
This allows for the necessity for re-testing, under the approved protocol, in those cases where this is required.
It is advisable that no commitments be entered in to regarding movement of individual animals BEFORE receipt of a test result.
The laboratories will endeavour to report results in the shortest possible time however if many samples are received in the lab at one time the test-turnaround time may be longer.

Animals testing ‘negative’ will be eligible for movement/export under the scheme.
Animals receiving a ‘positive’ result will not be eligible for movement.
Animals testing ‘inconclusive’ may be re-bled and tested under a new submission which should be requested separately, i.e. no further testing will be carried out on a sample once it has been reported on by VLA or Pirbright. It is advised that a period of 10 -14 days be allowed to elapse between the two sample dates.
It should be noted that a resubmission will occur an extra charge.
VLA and Pirbright are required by law to provide details of all animals testing ‘positive’ or ‘inconclusive’ to Defra.

All results will be reported by fax or e-mail to the submitting veterinary practice.
You must inform the livestock keeper of the results in writing and forward a certified copy for his records.

Page last modified: 3 July, 2008

Defra