11. From 1 April 2023 for any herd located in the specifically allocated spatial units or clusters in the Low and Intermediate TB areas of Wales, all CON (but not CON6 or CON12), 6M and 12M tests must be interpreted at severe interpretation. The work schedule for the relevant test in the affected herds will have the interpretation preselected at Severe.

12. For Sam enabled Official Veterinarians (OVs), the interpretation to be applied will have been identified by APHA and will in turn be automatically applied to the test results within Sam. Follow the Sam OV Practice User Guide for guidance on how to enter the results into Sam. This has now been amended following an update Sam to reflect the introduction of Information Note (TB181), where reactors or inconclusive reactors are identified. If reactors or inconclusive reactors have been identified you must record your actions using the appropriate selections on the Summary and Sign-Off tab and now refrain from detailing these in the Comments box.

13. For non-Sam enabled OVs, the interpretation to be applied will be confirmed on the OV Notification (BT04) request to complete the test and reviewed when the results are entered into Sam at the APHA office.

2. Sam enabled OVs must submit test results via Sam following the Sam OV Practice User Guide. This has now been amended following an update to Sam to reflect the introduction of Information Note (TB181) where reactors or inconclusive reactors are identified. If reactors or inconclusive reactors have been identified you must record your actions using the appropriate selections on the Summary and Sign-Off tab and now refrain from detailing these in the Comments box.

3. Non-Sam enabled OVs must submit test results to Worcester Specialist Service Centre (SSC) using the test report and chart (TB52/TB52(Welsh)TB52A/TB52A(Welsh)) reporting any cattle discrepancies with a manuscript report.

Tests where no Reactors or IRs are Disclosed

1. For tests that do not reveal reactors or IRs the results must be submitted to One Health Customer Service Centre (CSC) no later than five working days from the day the test or part test was completed.

Tests where Reactors or IRs are Disclosed

1. For tests where reactors or IRs are disclosed APHA must be notified immediately by submitting the results to One Health CSC within one working day.

2. If a herd was TB tested in synchronisation with another herd:

• APHA Veterinarians/Lay Testers and Sam enabled OVs must add a note in the 'Comments' box on the 'Test Details' tab
• non-Sam enabled OVs must annotate the top of the test report (TB52/TB52(Welsh)).

3. If the synchronised herd has a separate CPH number or a temporary CPH (tCPH):

• Sam enabled OVs should submit results on the appropriate test activity (WSA)
• non-Sam enabled OVs must submit and cross reference a separate test report.

4. APHA cannot process test results unless they are received in full. Receipt of the pro-forma or telephone notification of a reactor is no longer accepted.

5. For premises located in England and Wales where a DNA marking tag has been applied, the tag number must be entered in:

• the remarks column against the animal when entering the reaction details on Sam
• the remarks column of the test chart (TB52A/TB52A(Welsh)) if non-Sam enabled.

6. Where a marking tag has not been applied to the reactor, enter the reason in the remarks field on Sam or the remarks column on the working test form (TB52WF).

7. Where only IRs are revealed at a herd test:

• the APHA Veterinarian/Lay Tester must indicate on the test details tab that:
  • the keeper/owner has been instructed to isolate the animal(s)
  • a copy of the Information Note (TB181/TB181(Welsh)) has been provided to the keeper/ownerThe Information Note (TB181) can be provided electronically to keepers in ongoing breakdowns only (i.e. not the first time that reactors are disclosed in this incident) and subject to the following conditions:
    
    
    • the requirements are explained to the cattle keeper, using a hard copy (e.g. laminated) or an electronic version e.g. on a smart phone or tablet
    • whilst the vet is still on the farm
    • the tester is able to demonstrate that they have a record of doing so, i.e. that they can, if necessary, retrieve the electronic Information Note (TB181) completed with the appropriate details including evidence of when it was sent and to whom
    It is the tester's responsibility to ensure the farmer is given the information on the Information Note (TB181), in a format that is appropriate to the particular cattle keeper, there is a record that it has been provided and meet any legal data protection requirements.
  • the keeper/owner has been informed of the test results
  • the date that the owner/keeper was informed of the test results
• Sam enabled OV must:
  • indicate on the test details tab that:
    • the keeper/owner has been instructed to isolate the animals
    • a copy of the Information Note (TB181/TB181(Welsh)) has been provided to the keeper/owner - this must be done every time reactors or IRs are found at any testThe Information Note (TB181) can be provided electronically to keepers in ongoing breakdowns only (i.e. not the first time that reactors are disclosed in this incident) and subject to the following conditions:
      
      
      • the requirements are explained to the cattle keeper, using a hard copy (e.g. laminated) or an electronic version e.g. on a smart phone or tablet
      • whilst the vet is still on the farm
      • the tester is able to demonstrate that they have a record of doing so, i.e. that they can, if necessary, retrieve the electronic Information Note (TB181) completed with the appropriate details including evidence of when it was sent and to whom
      It is the tester's responsibility to ensure the farmer is given the information on the Information Note (TB181), in a format that is appropriate to the particular cattle keeper, there is a record that it has been provided and meet any legal data protection requirements.
    • the keeper/owner has been informed of the test results
    • the date that the keeper/owner was informed of the test results
• immediately submit the test to the relevant APHA office so the herd is not subjected to movement restrictions for longer than is necessary
• a non-Sam enabled OV should:
  • indicate on the test chart that:
    • the keeper/owner has been instructed to isolate the animals
    • a copy of the Information Note (TB181/TB181(Welsh)) has been provided to the keeper/owner - this must be done every time reactors or IRs are found at any testThe Information Note (TB181) can be provided electronically to keepers in ongoing breakdowns only (i.e. not the first time that reactors are disclosed in this incident) and subject to the following conditions:
      
      
      • the requirements are explained to the cattle keeper, using a hard copy (e.g. laminated) or an electronic version e.g. on a smart phone or tablet
      • whilst the vet is still on the farm
      • the tester is able to demonstrate that they have a record of doing so, i.e. that they can, if necessary, retrieve the electronic Information Note (TB181) completed with the appropriate details including evidence of when it was sent and to whom
      It is the tester's responsibility to ensure the farmer is given the information on the Information Note (TB181), in a format that is appropriate to the particular cattle keeper, there is a record that it has been provided and meet any legal data protection requirements.
    • the keeper/owner has been informed of the test results
    • the date the keeper/owner was informed of the test results
  • immediately submit to One Health CSC so the herd is not subjected to movement restrictions for longer than is necessary.

8. If the owner wishes to urgently move stock off the premises the veterinarian/tester must inform the APHA office as soon as possible.

9. OVs can keep copies of the Information Note (TB181/TB181(Welsh)) for their records but copies are not to be sent to APHA offices.

Eligible Animals not Presented for Testing

1. If any eligible cattle that are present on the holding at the time of test remain untested for any reason then the test must be submitted as a part test pending completion. Any such cattle must remain in the 'Assign Animals' tab on Sam and any remarks concerning this should be added to the additional comments in the 'Test Details' tab.

2. Any cattle on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) list which the tester is able to certify as no longer on the holding at the time of the test should be moved into the 'Not Tested' tab on Sam and submitted as 'Not at Location' or 'Dead' as applicable. If there are no eligible cattle on farm that remain untested then the tester may submit the test as complete.

3. Where any animal on the list is not eligible for testing and further clarification of the reasons is required, the tester should add additional comments in the 'Test Details' tab.

4. OVs are not expected to resolve any discrepancies but to accurately record them when submitting the test. However if the OV is presented with evidence that the animal is no longer located on farm and records this on the test chart, it will be taken into account when assessing what action should be taken on receipt of the chart by APHA.

5. If OVs certify that the test is complete but there is no evidence to indicate why animals present on the CTS list have not been presented for testing, APHA will reinstruct the test for the missing animals. The test will not be considered complete until the missing animals are either tested or the CTS record updated.

6. OVs are requested to inform keepers at the time of booking tests and again when carrying out the test that they must be compliant with the cattle ID and movement regulationsThe Cattle Identification Regulations 2007, The Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007, The Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007.and that all eligible animals must be presented for testing. Any discrepancies in their records must be addressed without delay prior to the TB test. They should be informed that if any animals remain unaccounted for when the test chart is submitted to APHA, the test will not be considered as complete. APHA will take actions as detailed above.

7. OVs should complete the CTS download in Sam as close to the test start date as possible so that recent movements on or off are captured on the submitted test record.

Official Veterinarians Claims for DNA Tagging

1. Only an OV applying a DNA marking tag at a private or farmer paid test can make a claim for DNA tagging, please refer to the instructions for Miscellaneous task and DNA packing and tagging claims for England and Wales for guidance. For an OV working for a Delivery Partner (DP) or for a sub-contracted OV practice to a Delivery Partner this cost is already included in the unit cost.

Subsequent Procedures in England and Wales

1. Unless the ear tag sample is required for DNA testing against ear samples collected at a slaughterhouse following suspicion of tampering, there should be no further action required from the official who applied the ear tag on the farm and sent the sample capsule.

2. Samples will be received, stored and retained at a central location. Checks will be made against information on systems to ensure that samples are received from all animals that have been classified as reactors. Where a sample has not been received, the OV/APHA office who identified the reactor may be contacted.

3. APHA will provide details of the reactor, including the reactor tag number to the slaughterhouse and where appropriate, the valuer to ensure it is checked at each stage of the process. Any discrepancies or missing tags will be reported to APHA.

4. Food Standards Agency (FSA) staff at slaughterhouses will check a proportion of all reactors and where suspicion of tampering is identified; ear samples will be collected and taken to APHA Weybridge. FSA will notify the APHA Central DNA Tagging Team who will send the corresponding ear tag sample for testing.

5. Ear tag samples will be retained until either:

• FSA have collected ear samples, either following suspicion of tampering, missing reactor tag, risk based targeting or as part of an audit scheme. In these cases the ear tag sample will be sent to APHA for testing to compare against the ear samples
• APHA are informed that the animal has been slaughtered and no ear samples were collected as described above. Once three months has elapsed, the samples will be destroyed unless part of an ongoing investigation.

6. Compensation payments for animals where samples were taken following suspicion of tampering or fraud will be withheld until results are received:

• if the samples match, compensation will be paid
• if the samples do not match, compensation should not be paid until the identity of the animal has been confirmed.

7. Where enforcement is undertaken, the person who tagged the animal and sent the ear tag sample capsule may be required to provide a witness statement.