Bovine Tuberculosis Antibody Test Card (Colloidal Gold Method)

Target and Hazard: Bovine tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium bovis and is an important chronic zoonotic disease, listed as a Class II animal disease in China. M. bovis can infect cattle, sheep, deer and other animals, spreading mainly by the respiratory and digestive routes; humans may be infected by inhaling contaminated aerosols or drinking unpasteurised milk. Affected cattle show chronic emaciation, coughing, enlarged lymph nodes and reduced milk yield, and may shed the organism for long periods, contaminating the environment and the herd. It is a priority target for herd eradication, public health and livestock product safety.

Significance of Testing: The card detects bovine tuberculosis-specific antibodies in cattle serum/plasma for rapid auxiliary screening, quarantine testing of incoming animals and epidemiological investigation. It provides supplementary information for cattle with doubtful tuberculin skin-test results, animals unsuitable for repeated testing, or situations requiring rapid on-site screening. A positive antibody result indicates infection or exposure and must be confirmed by skin testing, the gamma-interferon test and other methods as required by national regulations. Suitable for large-scale and dairy farms, quarantine agencies and primary veterinary stations.

Principle: Colloidal gold immunochromatographic indirect assay: specific M. bovis antigen is coated on the test line (T); specific antibodies in the sample are captured by the antigen and then bound by gold-labelled anti-bovine IgG, producing a visible line that indicates the presence of specific antibody. The control line (C) confirms test and procedure validity.

Performance and Applications: No equipment required; samples: serum or plasma; visual reading within 10–30 minutes; store and ship at 2–30 °C in a cool, dry place, with an 24-month shelf life. Suitable for rapid on-site screening at dairy and beef farms, animal quarantine agencies and primary veterinary stations; positive results should be confirmed by other methods and handled in accordance with national regulations. Method: colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (indirect) | Samples: serum or plasma | Time to result: 10–30 min | Reading: visual assessment of T/C lines — a coloured T line indicates a positive antibody result, C line is the procedural control | Format: tests/box (as stated on the label) | Storage: 2–30 °C, cool and dry; shelf life 24 months | Note: sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, intra-/inter-assay CV and agreement with the tuberculin skin test/gamma-interferon test are subject to our internal QC report.