Introduction

1. Free BTV-3 tests will be available in advance of any zones being declared to those moving susceptible species to live elsewhere in Great Britain from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.

2. Keepers in these counties are currently at the highest risk of BTV-3 from infected midges being blown over from the continent, where disease is present. Given that BTV-3 does not present clinical signs in all animals, Defra will be offering free tests for animals moving from these 5 counties to live elsewhere in Great Britain.

3. Free bluetongue testing is only available for susceptible animals that are being moved out of the high-risk counties to live or are being sold at a market within the high-risk counties with buyers from outside the county.

Advice for veterinarians contracted by APHA through Farmcare on sampling and free bluetongue testing in high-risk counties in England

Testing will be undertaken at the UK bluetongue National Reference Laboratory at The Pirbright Institute or the bluetongue official laboratory at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Eligible high-risk counties

Free bluetongue testing is available in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex. (Further counties may be included if the risk changes). See the interactive map for eligible counties. Risk will be continuously monitored.

Eligible animals for free testing

Free bluetongue testing is only available for susceptible animals that are being moved out of the high-risk counties to live or are being sold at a market within the high-risk counties with buyers from outside the county. You should only request a free test if keepers plan to move ruminants or camelids outside these counties Testing is voluntary.

Testing young animals

If suckling lambs and kids (i.e. those that are not yet weaned and younger than 3 months) are to be moved out of the high-risk counties, you can decide whether they should be tested. The dam should however be tested prior to the move, even if you don't intend to move her with the offspring. We suggest that the young are not separated from their dams until the pre-movement test results are obtained.

For weaned lambs and kids, and un-weaned lambs and kids over 3 months, these should be subject to the same sampling and testing requirements as for adult animals.

If moving calves younger than 7 days old out of the high-risk counties, you can decide whether they should be tested. Calves over 7 days of age at the time of sampling should be tested.

Sample submission and packaging: guidance for VDP vets

1. 1 x EDTA (purple top) blood sample will be used.

2. Each individual animal ID must be recorded on the sample submission form (EXD37).

3. Please write legibly so we can match the results to the animal tested.

4. Please ensure that the name of the keeper, telephone number and email address for the person to whom the results will be notified, is clearly marked on the submission form.

5. In Part 2 Reason for Sampling please use the 'other box'.  Please include the following information the box 'Free testing in high-risk counties – PCR only. Animals to be moved from address above to XXXXXXXXX (Farm name, village, town, county, Post Code) or name of Market'.

6. Please write 'High-risk counties Free Testing' and the number of samples on the top of the form and on the outside of the packaging.

7. Samples must be packaged in accordance with ADR UN3373 standards.

8. Please and send the samples and submission form by Royal Mail or next day courier to either Pirbright or Weybridge. Farmcare will advise you which laboratory to use:

• NVRL, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, GU24 0NF
or
• The Sample Reception Area, Bluetongue Official Laboratory, APHA Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB