BrBME - Brucellosis Bulk Milk ELISA (Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) test benefits
Information on the benefits of the Brucellosis Bulk Milk ELISA (Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay)(BrBME ) test.
BrBME Benefits
The main advantage of the BrBME is that the brucellosis status of all milking cows in a herd can be assessed by taking one milk sample from the bulk tank. This means cattle do not need to be individually restrained and tested. Indeed Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) staff do not even need to visit the farm as the milk samples are supplied by the dairy which collects milk from the farm. This makes sampling very cost effective. Because they are undergoing monthly BrBME, dairy herds in clear areas can be accorded a lower priority with regard to blood testing. This allows DARD staff to concentrate their efforts on the blood sampling of other herds. The test is recognised by the European Union as an official test for the purpose of the brucellosis control programme.
