Written question asked by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 10 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 May 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 20 May 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice the Central Scientific Laboratory has provided to her Department on the (a) specificity and (b) sensitivity of the Bovigam gamma interferon test; and what advice it has provided on the applicability of the test as a bovine TB control measure; what recent discussions her Department and its agencies have had with Central Science Laboratory on the practical application of its Bovigam gamma interferon test for bovine TB in cattle.

Answer: Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Central Scientific Laboratory has provided to her Department on the (a) specificity and (b) sensitivity of the Bovigam gamma interferon test; and what advice it has provided on the applicability of the test as a bovine TB control measure; [172999] (2) what recent discussions her Department and its agencies have had with Central Science Laboratory on the practical application of its Bovigam gamma interferon test for bovine TB in cattle. [172555] Mr. Bradshaw: No discussions have taken place with the Central Science Laboratory on the subject of the Bovigam gamma interferon test. The Bovigam test was developed by Commonwealth Serological Laboratories Veterinary Ltd., Australia.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 421 c1107W; 172999;172555
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Cattle Disease control Testing Bovine tuberculosis Central Science Laboratory
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk