| September 24,
2004, as reported by just-food.com: A rapid detection
test for BSE has been designed and will now undergo field
tests according to the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA). The test—if approved—would significantly
reduce the amount of culling following an outbreak.
The new testing procedure would allow BSE tests to
be conducted on live animals. Current testing methods
can only be preformed on dead animals and often result
in the unnecessary killing of uninfected animals.
EFSA’s Scientific Expert Working Group on Transmissible
Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) wants to add a rapid
live test to five rapid post mortem tests.
A report on the trial said: “An accurate live
animal test might offer the possibility to reduce the
number of culled animals after the detection of one
positive animal.”
The key, it said, was ensuring any new rapid live BSE
test was not “statistically inferior” to
post mortem tests.
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