Private blood tests are given priority in the brucellosis laboratory over round or herd tests. Negative results are normally issued in the afternoon of the day following receipt of the samples in the laboratory. In the case of positive results, an extra one or two days can be required to facilitate extra testing of the samples. Samples received on a Friday are normally issued on the following Monday.
Special arrangements have been in place since 1999 to allow eligible females and bulls over 12 months of age to move to any number of shows within the validity period of the 30 day pre-movement brucellosis blood test. A copy of the information sheet on these arrangements was issued in late 2003 from my Department to organisers and exhibitors of livestock at shows for 2004 will be forwarded to the Deputy for his information.
Good progress has been made in recent years in reducing the incidence of brucellosis. While I am confident this improvement will continue, there is still a significant reservoir of the disease in many counties and a small number of serious breakdowns continue to occur. Accordingly, we cannot become complacent about this highly contagious disease and all elements of the programme must be retained in their present form.
