The PrioCHECK® BVDV RT-PCR is the first “real time” RT-PCR kit developed by Prionics. With the PrioCHECK® BVDV RT-PCR, cattle of all ages - including newborns and fallen stock - can be tested producing results with high sensitivity and specificity.
The new PrioCHECK® BVDV RT-PCR was specially developed for the detection of the BVD virus in new born cattle that are persistently infected (PI) with the virus. When PI animals remain unidentified in the herd, they can spread the infection to other cattle, which can greatly endanger the success of a BVDV farm control or eradication program. The PrioCHECK® BVDV RT-PCR is compatible with the use of ear tag samples, such as those obtained with the TypiFix™ ear tags, as well as with blood samples. The test complements our portfolio for BVDV diagnostics and meets our customers’ requirements for fast, reliable and robust diagnostic tools.
Excellent sensitivity and specificity
The PrioCHECK® BVDV RT-PCR was tested extensively both in a field trial and in BVDV ring trials with excellent results. In the field trial, 558 negative samples of different origins were recognized correctly, resulting in a specificity of 100 %. The sensitivity was determined at 99.7 %; 576 out of 578 positive samples were detected correctly. The test works with both ear tissue lysates and blood samples. Whereas these data were all obtained with single probes, the test also performed well on pooled samples.
Why do we need a real-time RT-PCR test?
The genetic material of the BVD virus consists of RNA. This genetic material is not suitable for amplification by PCR. Therefore, the RNA of the virus has to be transcribed to single-stranded DNA, before the sample can be used for the PCR procedure. This step is performed using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase (RT). The Prionics PCR test is a real-time PCR; meaning that the production of DNA molecules in the sample can be monitored while they are formed. This technique allows for quantative detection of the virus and gives a more accurate answer as to whether or not the animal is infected.
