Idexx launches Schmallenberg Ab Test worldwide

Idexx Laboratories has announced the international launch of its new Schmallenberg Ab Test, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for use by government and export laboratories.

This new screening test accurately detects antibodies to Schmallenberg virus with high levels of specificity and sensitivity, utilising strip plates that support small volume testing yet can be easily scaled up to larger volumes.

Schmallenberg and Simbu-serogroup viruses are vector-borne and can cause congenital defects, abortions and stillbirths in cattle, sheep and goats, making screening for these diseases essential in the trade and export sectors.

The test comes complete with ready-to-use reagents and can be seamlessly integrated into automated workflows to enhance efficiency.

Olivier te Boekhorst, vice-president and general manager for Idexx Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics and Idexx Dairy, said: "Idexx understands that producers and purchasers need to know the serologic status of animals in order to make confident decisions about trade or export."

This comes after the company introduced the world's first milk-based test for detecting pregnancy among cattle last month.