Actiphage is unique as it is able to detect and identify live mycobacteria at a very early stage of infection,...
Benefits of Actiphage
The ability to detect viable MAP or bTB in the blood at an early stage of infection offers greater sensitivity in diagnosis, improved identification of carriers and more effective disease control.
Actiphage provides a highly specific and sensitive assay for the cost-effective detection of mycobacterial disease in blood and milk.
Actiphage increases the speed and effectiveness of testing..
Faster testing time
Actiphage only requires one visit to collect blood samples and analysis takes 6-8 hours to produce a result.
No ‘cool off’ period
There is no time limit between tests, enabling a continuous programme of testing to be carried out where infection has been detected or is suspected.
Highly sensitive
The test only works on viable mycobacteria. Actiphage is more sensitive than any other test currently available, able to detect fewer than 10 live mycobacteria in a 2ml blood sample.
Highly specific
The technology has in-built high-level specificity controls and is able to identify any species of mycobacteria that is susceptible to the bacteriophage, including MAP (Johne’s disease) and M.bovis (bovine TB).
High accuracy
Actiphage can reproducibly distinguish between live and dead mycobacteria, meaning that a positive result will only be delivered if there are live mycobacteria in the sample.
As a DIVA tool (Differentiating Vaccinated from Infected Animals):
Uniquely, Actiphage directly detects live mycobacteria so will always produce a negative result when used on vaccinated animals even if they might have a positive skin test result. This opens up the possibility of, for example, the roll-out of vaccination programmes for bovine TB.
Testing services
To find out more about our MAP/Johne's Disease testing service contact us.
Towards eradicating tuberculosis
A regime of testing and removal supported by good hygiene has been shown to reduce the reservoir of disease on-farm.
This is a vital first step towards eradication of these devastating diseases.
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