Serology
Serological tests are undertaken at the Crowshall Veterinary Laboratory. This can be conducted as part of a routine monitoring programme or for diagnostic testing.
Serology can be used to assess how flocks have responded to vaccination programmes and also to assess whether birds have been exposed to certain pathogens.
There are a number of different serological tests that can be undertaken at the laboratory but the most common tests used are:
- Rapid serum agglutination testing (RSA)
- Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA)
These tests look for evidence of specific agents by the detection of antigens (proteins expressed on the surface of a pathogen) or they look for the birds response to exposure to specific agents by detecting antibodies.
Serological tests that are commonly conducted at Crowshall Veterinary Laboratory include:
- Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) RSA
- Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) RSA
- Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) RSA
- Salmonella pullorum (SP) RSA
- Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) ELISA
- Avian Rhinotracheitis Virus (ART) ELISA
- Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) ELISA
- Ornithobacter rhinotrachaele (ORT) ELISA
- Chick Anaemia Virus (CAV) ELISA
- Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro IBD) ELISA
We endeavour to conduct testing as soon as we can to ensure the results are available as soon as possible. This is important where infections are suspected or if there is only limited time left for example if revaccination is required .
All results are interpreted by a member of the veterinary team before being reported and therefore it is important to specify as much information as possible when submitting blood samples for testing. Such information should include the vaccines used and when they were used, clinical signs and when they occurred and how this relates to the timing of sampling.
Often it will be necessary to take two sets of blood samples when testing. These are known as acute and convalescent sera. The first ones are taken at or around the time of a suspected infectious challenge and the second one 2-3 weeks later. The two samples can then be compared to see if the titres have increased. It often takes 2-3 weeks for birds to produce antibodies and hence the time difference required between the first blood test and the second.
When submitting blood samples these should ideally be submitted at the start or middle of the week and also submitted on the day of sampling. If it is not possible to submit samples on the day of sampling then these should be fridged (not frozen) and if posting these should be packaged in accordance with Post Office Regulations and include an icepack. Bloods should be sufficiently insulated to prevent them from becoming frozen. Postage should be by recorded next day delivery. If posting bloods we recommend that you call the practice to alert us so we can anticipate their arrival and also discuss the most appropriate testing.
Click here to display/print a Crowshall Serology Request form.