Written question asked by James Paice (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 31 January 2008. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Thursday, 7 February 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Screening

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the efficacy of polymerase chain technology for testing (a) live and (b) dead cattle for bovine TB either alone or as a supporting test to the skin test.

Answer: We recognise that Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has potential for speeding up the process of identifying the presence of Mycobacterium bovis in animal tissues and the environment. DEFRA has been funding work using the PCR technique to develop tests for M. bovis since 1999.A method for the detection of M. bovis by PCR direct from bovine tissues (from dead animals) in the laboratory is currently being evaluated. PCR is not as sensitive as culture, but can provide a more rapid confirmation of the disease in animals revealing suspicious lesions at slaughter.Work on using PCR for detection of M. bovis in clinical samples from live animals has shown it is not suitable for this use. The gamma interferon blood test is used as a supporting test for the diagnosis of TB in cattle.

Secondary information