TB Testing (part 1)

Click here to read this PDF article by Stephen Mulholland Ph.D.; TB part 1

An extract of this article is below, click on the link above for a pdf of the entire article.

By now many of you have read about the unfolding tale of Tuberculosis in the UK. The great loss of life among the llamas and alpacas there has been both sad and frightening. Recent scientific articles have called the TB skin test- the same method we use here in NZ- into question. I know there is a lot of concern for our animals, since TB is present in New Zealand. Let me start by saying (with all credit to the wise Douglas Adams)…

DON’T PANIC

Yes, the current test is imperfect, and recent evidence seems to suggest that there may be significant problems with the skin test, but (and I know this will sound strange) the good news is that it if it doesn’t work today, it didn’t work yesterday.