Posted on 06/26/2004 12:35:45 PM PDT by Dubh_Ghlase
DR. JOHN CLIFFORD (APHIS Veterinary Services):
"At approximately 5:30 this evening we received notice that an inconclusive BSE test result was received on a screening test used as part of our enhanced BSE surveillance program. The inconclusive result does not in and of itself mean that we have found another case of BSE in this country. Inconclusive results are a normal component of most screening tests which are designed to be extremely sensitive so they will detect any sample that could possibly be positive.
"Tissue samples are now being sent to USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories, the National BSE Reference Lab which will render additional testing on this sample.
"The animal in question did not enter the food chain, and the carcass is being held. I know there will be great interest in the statistics surrounding this inconclusive test result, such as what type of animal was tested, where the animal was from, and which lab did the testing. Because this test is only an inconclusive test result and because the test may very well turn out to be negative, we are not going to disclose this information at this time.
"APHIS is beginning internal steps to identify the animal to be prepared in the event that the test comes back positive for BSE.
"Again, confirmatory tests are expected back from NVSL within the next 4 to 7 days, and we will announce the test results then. And if the test comes back positive for BSE, we'll of course provide additional information about the animal and its origin.
"In the meantime, there are two particular points I would like to make. First and foremost, this is not at all unexpected. Screening tests as I said are designed to be extremely sensitive. They are often used in both human and animal health. They are designed to cast a very wide net in order to catch any possible animal that may have a condition, which will end up negative during further testing.
"In humans, glucose testing for diabetes is a good example of that. This is the type of screening test that we are using for BSE surveillance testing.
"Second, no matter how the additional testing comes back, USDA remains confident in the safety of the U.S. beef supply. Again, in the case of this particular animal it did not enter the human food chain, and of course our ban on specified risk materials from the human food chain provides the utmost protection to public health should another case of BSE ever be detected in the U.S.
"By banning specified risk materials, USDA has ensured that those materials most likely to contain the BSE agent are removed from a suspect animal. Additional measures to strengthen public health safeguards include the longstanding ban on imports of live cattle, other ruminants, and most ruminant products from high-risk countries.
"FDA's 1997 prohibition on the use of most mammalian protein in cattle feed; an aggressive surveillance program that has been in place for more than a decade; and the banning of nonambulatory cattle from the human food chain; process control requirement for establishments using advanced meat recovery systems; prohibiting the air injection stunning of cattle; and if an animal presented for slaughter is sampled for BSE, holding the carcasses until the test results have been confirmed negative.
"In 2001 and again 2003, Harvard University conducted an independent assessment that affirmed USDA's BSE control and prevention measures. This assessment further affirmed that even with one or more detections of BSE in this country, U.S. control efforts will minimize any possible spread of the disease and ultimately eliminate it from the U.S. cattle population.
Rest of the Q & A session transcript at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0264.04.html
(Excerpt) Read more at usda.gov ...
Posting for Freeper thoughts and views on the subject....
DubhGhlase
ping for you
I don't know how common false positives are on BSE tests. Might have to ask the British. It is certainly nothing like the situation with Anthrax field tests, where most positive field tests turn out be be false (of course).
We don't know any of that yet.
Of all the testing so far after the one case from the foreign cow entering the US, few even inconclusive tests have occurred.
I would not panic yet.
thanx for the ping. I've been out all day, and am just passing thru on my way to another appointment. I would have never found this thread without you.
We must be vigilant in our inspections.
BBL
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