In this issue:
- Announcement—IDEXX Production Animal Services Is Now IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics
- Field Notes—Testing Is the First Step in BVDV Control
- Product News—Introducing the SNAP® BVD Test for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV)
- Tech Tip—Understanding the ELISA Certificate of Analysis
- Visit Us—Events Around the World
- Learn More—IDEXX Is Seeking Candidates for Poultry Sales Manager
IDEXX Production Animal Services Is Now IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics
Over a year ago, we polled customers like you around the world and asked, “What do you expect when you do business with IDEXX?” Your answer: High-quality reliable products, accurate results, and prompt, accessible, superior service.
Thank you for sharing these expectations—and for choosing to put your trust in us.
Over the next few months, we are making changes to repay that trust, simplify your interactions with IDEXX and reaffirm our commitment to provide the products and expertise you need to protect animal health and safety.
Introducing the new IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics
- Test With Confidence™ is our new motto. It reflects our promise to you to be reliable, accurate and accessible so you can test with confidence when you do business with IDEXX.
- Simpler product names will use IDEXX in lieu of FlockChek®, HerdChek®, CHEKIT® and Pourquier®.
- Succinct and easy-to-read technical and educational materials, in both printed and electronic forms, can easily be shared with your customers.
- Standard, robust and more user-friendly packaging for all IDEXX products will be introduced in early 2011.
- One customer service team will take your orders and answer your technical questions—one telephone number, multiple-language support.
- One integrated shipment will consolidate your orders for IDEXX products manufactured in France, Switzerland and the United States, starting in 2011.
We will send you regular updates on all these initiatives in the coming months.
Thank you for your continued business and your trust.
Testing Is the First Step in BVDV Control
With fall calving season over, now is an excellent time to test young calves for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Calves born with a BVDV infection remain infected for life and are highly contagious. If allowed to join the herd, these persistently infected (PI) calves can quickly spread disease.
Cows exposed to a PI calf develop a transient form of BVDV lasting 10–14 days. Although of short duration, transient BVDV can wreak economic havoc in a herd, because it suppresses each cow’s immune system, making the animal susceptible to a host of other infections.
Young animals often succumb to pneumonia, losing weight and requiring additional medical care, while pregnant females suffer reproductive losses, including abortions, still births and weak, unthrifty calves. In addition, dairy producers see increased mastitis and reduced milk production in the herd.
Overall losses from BVDV for both beef and dairy producers are estimated at $15–$88 per head worldwide.
Diagnostic Testing Is Essential
PI calves are the primary source of BVDV infection. Although PI calves may die at a young age, many appear completely normal and healthy. The only way to detect them is by diagnostic testing.
Consider testing for BVDV in any of these situations:
- To identify and remove PI cattle, especially young calves, before they join the herd
- To determine the BVDV status of newly purchased cattle, especially if coming from unknown or mixed sources
- To rule out BVDV during routine investigations or when clinical signs are present
- To verify the BVDV status of animals before and after moving them
- For ongoing monitoring of a herd to confirm and maintain its BVDV-free status
BVDV Testing Options from IDEXX
IDEXX offers a complete portfolio of BVDV tests to accurately detect PI animals of any age, in any herd type:
- IDEXX BVDV Ag/Serum Plus Test
- Erns antigen test that accurately identifies PI status, even in very young calves
- IDEXX BVDV Ag Test
- The only USDA-licensed test for BVDV in cattle; use with single ear notches to quickly screen for PI animals
- IDEXX BVDV Total Ab Test
- Blood-based antibody test used to monitor at-risk groups and to identify recent infection or reinfection, usually indicative of exposure to a PI animal
- Bulk milk tank antibody test used to assess the status of a group of lactating cows
- IDEXX SNAP BVD Test
- A new, rapid test for BVDV detection, delivering results in just 20 minutes. See “Introducing the SNAP® BVD Test for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV)” for information about this quick, convenient test option for BVDV.
BVDV threatens cattle of any age, any breed, in any location. Diagnostic testing is the first step to BVDV control. For more information about BVDV testing, please contact your IDEXX representative.
Introducing the SNAP® BVD Test for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV)
IDEXX Laboratories announces the release of the IDEXX SNAP® BVD Test. This simple, in-house test detects bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antigen using serum or ear-notch samples in only 20 minutes. Veterinarians can use the SNAP BVD Test to quickly determine the status of individual animals or to complement routine laboratory-based herd screening as part of a BVDV herd management program. The SNAP BVD Test is the first IDEXX rapid assay for livestock, and it marks the debut of a new series of tests the company will offer specifically for large-animal veterinary surgeons.
“BVDV is one of the world’s most costly cattle diseases, causing losses of £10–£60 per animal through diminished herd productivity and reproductive problems,” says William Goodspeed, Corporate Vice President of IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics. “With the SNAP BVD Test, we can help veterinarians and farmers manage BVDV with the ultimate goal of eliminating it.”
The SNAP BVD Test’s speed and simplicity make it easy for veterinarians to add BVDV testing to pre- and post-movement visits and ultimately deliver better disease management for their clients. IDEXX recommends using the test to verify the status of individual animals entering a farm regardless of vaccination history, to rule out BVDV in sick or dead animals and to detect persistently infected (PI) cattle in other situations when cattle are not routinely checked for BVDV.
“The SNAP BVD Test gives veterinarians a proven tool to initiate the BVDV conversation with their clients and enhance the value of their on-farm visits,” says Olivier te Boekhorst, General Manager of IDEXX Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics. “It uses the same proven IDEXX ELISA technology that veterinarians and farmers worldwide turn to more than 26 million times a year.”
The IDEXX SNAP BVD Test will launch in the United Kingdom and South Africa and will soon be available in other countries.
For more information about the new SNAP BVD Test, visit idexx.com/snapdecision.
Understanding the ELISA Certificate of Analysis
IDEXX tests are manufactured in lots according to strict quality standards. Lot approval by regulatory authorities, such as the USDA, is based upon the results of internal quality control testing for the test.
The Certificate of Analysis (C of A) for a test documents the performance of the test at the time of release testing. The performance data include the optical density (OD) values of the test controls and the calculated results and/or qualitative interpretation of a selected group of samples used during manufacturing. All these values must be within a specified range for the test lot to be approved for sale.
However, the OD values of the test controls do not need to remain within the C of A ranges during the lifetime of the test. Optical density values may change over time, without compromising test quality.
Diagnostic tests are composed of biological components that are not always stable when removed from their natural environment. Despite stabilizers used to control shelf life, most biological components lose some activity with time. When this occurs, OD values can decrease. The decrease in OD values of the test controls parallels the decrease of OD values in the tested samples, so the calculated results remain the same. Lower OD values than those on the C of A are acceptable, as long as the validity specifications in the test insert are met for the assay.
The validity criteria in the insert differ from the values noted on the C of A. Validity criteria in the insert usually specify a limit on a control OD value or a ratio of control OD values. If a test plate performs within the validity specifications of the insert, then the test is working properly and the test results can be used.
The shelf life of an IDEXX diagnostic test can vary from 9 months to 2 years depending upon the product. The test is designed to give valid results throughout its shelf life.
With any ELISA, reproducibility and reliability depend on proper technique, equipment, environmental factors and attention to detail. The C of A is a useful tool to use as a guideline for anticipated test performance. You can find Certificates of Analysis for IDEXX tests by using the Certificate of Analysis Request Form on idexx.com.
Events Around the World
Warsaw, Poland—October 20–22
EuroPRRS2010
www.europrrs.net/events/europrrs2010
Guadalajara, Mexico—October 21–23
FIGAP/VIV América Latina 2010
Genova, Italy—October 27–29
XII Congresso Nazionale SIDiLV
www.sidilv.org
Ghent, Belgium—October 29–31
Expovet 2010
www.expovet.be
Torreon, Mexico—November 4–6
10o. Congreso Internacional de MVZ Especialistas en Bovinos
www.amveblaguna.com
Minneapolis, MN—November 11–17
USAHA/AAVLD Annual Meeting
www.usaha.org
Santiago, Chile—November 14–18
XXVI World Buiatrics Congress
www.wbc2010.com
Hanover, Germany—November 16–19
EuroTier
www.eurotier.de/home-en.html
Zaragoza, Spain—November 18–19
XV Simposio Anual Avedila
www.congresoavedila2010.es
Hanover, Germany—November 18–21
bpt Congress 2010
www.tieraerzteverband.de/wDeutsch/akademie/kg2010/kg_start.shtml
Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium—November 19–21
Vétérinexpo 2010
www.veterinexpo.be
IDEXX Is Seeking Candidates for Poultry Sales Manager
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is currently seeking candidates for the position of Poultry Sales Manager, located in the IDEXX Westbrook, Maine, USA, office. Candidates must be veterinarians or have a biochemistry degree.
The Poultry Sales Manager promotes IDEXX poultry products to private and public veterinary laboratories, demonstrates poultry tests, participates in product launches and helps shape product marketing policy. The Poultry Sales Manager provides technical support by responding to customer inquiries and concerns, seeks new customers for IDEXX poultry products, strengthens ties with existing customers and works to ensure customer satisfaction.
For detailed job requirements, please see the Poultry Sales Manager posting on idexx.com.
© 2010 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
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