BSE detection in live cattle a step closer

Detecting BSE in cattle early is critical, making a test for BSE in live cattle highly desirable. Now scientists from Germany, the UK and Canada have moved a step closer to this goal. Wolfgang Petrich from Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany, and co-workers have developed a method for detecting BSE signatures in serum using diagnostic pattern recognition (DPR) - a combination of mid-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate classification algorithms.

For increased convenience, the procedure uses disposable sample carriers and a semi-automated DPR analysis system operating at room temperature. A blinded trial of the system showed the technique could reliably identify serum samples from BSE-infected cattle, with a numerical accuracy of 94.4 per cent. Although more work is needed before the DPR approach can be incorporated into routine BSE investigations, this first example of BSE signature detection in serum provides an important stepping stone to easy and reliable BSE diagnosis.

Rowena Milan