Information released on 3 February 2005

Summary of information requested

What tests are used in VLA for the diagnosis of diseases such as; enzootic bovine leucosis, brucellosis, paratuberculosis, IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis), BVD (Bovine Virus Diarrhoea) Q fever and blue tongue disease? What is the price for each test and how many are used per year?

Information released

The number of diagnostic kits VLA have purchased over the last 12 months 2004-05.

  • Bluetongue: No kits purchased, testing not carried out by VLA
  • Brucellosis: No kits purchased, in house reagents used
  • BVD Antigen ELISA: 66 kits purchased, 192 tests per kit
  • BVD serology: No kits purchased, in house reagents used
  • Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL): 11 kits purchased. Each kit contains 2400 tests
  • IBR: No kits purchased, in house reagents used
  • Johnes disease / Paratuberculosis: 19 kits purchased, each kit contains 30 plates
  • Q fever: No kits purchased

VLA has a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic tests which can be found in our test price list.

These tests are used for disease surveillance and diagnosis and also as part of our international trade programme. Further background information can be found in the VLA Annual Review.

As well as providing a testing service, VLA carries out research into animal diseases that are important in the UK. As a result we develop commercially available diagnostic kits and reagents.

For most of our in-house produced tests we have no desire to move to purchased kits. Occasionally we do look for new test kits to replace existing ones and when this is necessary we explore the possibilities in the market. Our Procurement Unit deal with procurement and commercial tenders.