I just read about this on ruminationsongoats.blogspot.com - is this something that is being done instead of a blood draw???
I copied this from the above site - Cheryl K. Smith....
CAEV Test with Milk Sample
A study published in the February 2009 issue of Small Ruminant Research compared the ELISA method of diagnosing caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) using samples of milk whey and the usual blood samples. Samples of each were taken from 66 lactating dairy goats whose infection status for CAEV was already known. All of the goats whose blood samples tested positive for CAEV also had positive tests using the milk samples; the same was true for those with negative tests.
The researchers concluded that using ELISA on milk whey samples is an appropriate method for diagnosing CAEV, and it may be even better because the test is non-invasive (no need to draw blood) and may be less expensive.
Any goat keeper can learn to draw blood from his or her goats (you can find detailed instructions in Goat Health Care), but for those who are milking their goats, wouldn't it be nice to just save a sample and send it in to the lab for annual testing?
The researchers concluded that using ELISA on milk whey samples is an appropriate method for diagnosing CAEV, and it may be even better because the test is non-invasive (no need to draw blood) and may be less expensive.
Any goat keeper can learn to draw blood from his or her goats (you can find detailed instructions in Goat Health Care), but for those who are milking their goats, wouldn't it be nice to just save a sample and send it in to the lab for annual testing?
Replies
Melissa Johnson said:
Julie Quilligan said:
Melissa Johnson said:
Julie Quilligan said:
Melissa Johnson said:
no happy face needed. I need to focus on what is "right" about my goats, instead of what could go wrong! Right, Deborah? ^^
We used to buy raw cow's milk when I was a kid $.50 a gallon. ^^ It was wonderful, she would milk while we waited sometimes and then would come in and strain it through a thick dishcloth. We never thought about those sorts of things....... and the warm milk tasted heavenly..... ^^ what state are you in Julie? btw no sunshine today, and between me and the goats we ate all the Ginger Snaps yesterday, so even they knew there was no sun. -( LOL.
Julie Quilligan said:
Melissa Johnson said:
Julie Quilligan said:
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said: