Written question asked by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 August 2011.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the level of effectiveness of the current test for tuberculosis in cattle; and what proposals they have for improving the effectiveness of the test.

Answer: The tuberculin skin test is used throughout the world as the primary screening test for TB in cattle and is an effective test when correctly performed. It is the prescribed standard method laid down in both national and international legislation for determining the existence of disease in a cattle herd. Scientific research shows that, on average, the skin test used in the UK will detect approximately 80 per cent of all the infected cattle in a herd at any one test (at standard interpretation). There is only a 0.1 per cent probability of a non-infected animal being wrongly classified as a reactor. The TB testing programme in Great Britain has been enhanced by the use of the gamma interferon blood test since 2006. This diagnostic test is used alongside the tuberculin skin test in known infected herds to improve the sensitivity of the testing regime and to identify more infected animals more quickly. Using both tests in this way can help to speed up the resolution of confirmed TB breakdowns by identifying as many infected cattle as possible at the earliest opportunity.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 11290; 729 c458WA
Session: 2010-12
Notes: Answer received between Monday 1 August 2011 and Monday 8 August 2011.
Subjects: Cattle Testing Bovine tuberculosis
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk