Bovine TB: get your cattle tested in England
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-31)

The tests you must arrange for bovine TB, what happens if your cattle test positive, when cattle must be slaughtered, and compensation.

Routine TB tests

If you keep cattle they must be routinely tested for bovine TB. You do not have to pay for routine TB tests.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will write to you to explain:
- the type of test you need to arrange
- the earliest date that the test can be started and the latest date that the test must be completed
- the date that the test will become overdue
- the cattle that must be tested
- how to prepare for the test
- the organisation appointed to do the test
In most cases APHA will ask a veterinary delivery partner to appoint an authorised vet or Approved Tuberculin Tester (ATT) to carry out your test. They may appoint a government vet or an APHA animal health officer (lay tester) but this is less common.

If you would prefer someone else to do it, you can ask another suitably qualified person to carry out the test. You may have to pay for the test.

You must arrange the test with the appointed vet or other qualified person before the deadline date in the letter.

Contact APHA (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-apha) or talk to your vet if you have any questions about the test.

In some cases, not all the cattle in your herd will need to be tested. APHA will tell you which animals must be tested for each test.

You cannot use TB tests carried out by ATTs for export purposes. TB tests for export purposes must be carried out by approved veterinary surgeons. This includes the export of germplasm such as semen or ova.

How often your herd must have routine TB tests

You must test your cattle for TB at least:
- once every 6 months if your herd is in the High Risk Area (HRA)
- once a year or once every 6 months if your herd is in the Edge Area (EA)
- once every 4 years if your herd is in the Low Risk Area (LRA)
Cattle in lower risk herds in the 6 monthly testing areas that meet certain criteria are tested once a year.

Cattle in higher risk herds in the LRA may be tested every 6 or 12 months.

Find out how often TB tests must be carried out in your area (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bovine-tb-testing-intervals-2021).

Higher risk farms and industries

In the LRA, cattle must be tested at least once a year if you:
- run a city or open farm
- run an artificial insemination centre
- produce or sell raw milk directly to the final consumer, as part of an on-farm catering business or produce raw milk for the production of unpasteurised milk products, for example cheese
- rear heifers
- keep a dealer herd
- regularly bring any cattle from Ireland on to your premises
- keep a hire bull herd or business
Cattle in herds located in ‘hot spots (https://tbhub.co.uk/tb-policy/england/low-risk-area-tb-hotspots/)’ in the LRA may be tested as frequently as every 6 months.

If you’re not sure how often you must have your animals tested, contact APHA (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-apha).

What happens if a test becomes overdue

A TB test becomes overdue if the test has not been completed for all eligible animals by the deadline.

If the test goes overdue:
- your herd will be placed under TB restrictions and will lose its officially TB free (OTF) status
- you won’t be able to move any animals on or off your premises without a licence issued by APHA - you’ll need to contact APHA to apply for any licence
- APHA will write to you to explain what you need to do to make sure that testing is carried out
- you may get less compensation for any animals that test positive for TB and have to be slaughtered
- the local authority may investigate and you may be prosecuted
Prepare for the test

Before the test, you must make sure that:
- where possible use drugs with a short meat withdrawal period (the time after treatment before the meat can be used for human consumption)
- your cattle are correctly identified by their ear tags - order replacement tags as needed
- cattle movement records, including passports, are accurate and ready for inspection
- cattle veterinary medicine records are accurate and ready for inspection
- you do not include any cattle that had a TB skin test in the 60 days before the planned test date. Have the evidence of their last test ready for inspection
- you have suitable testing and handling facilities
- you have enough staff to move cattle into handling facilities quickly and safely
An inspector may cancel the test on the day if they decide that you have not prepared for it or it’s not safe to go ahead. You’re still responsible for making sure your cattle are safely tested on time.

You should avoid giving routine veterinary medicines like wormers or vaccines once the test has started and until the test has been completed for each individual animal.

Make sure your facilities are suitable

Your testing and handling facilities must:
- allow safe movement of cattle
- include a suitable handling system (such as a crush and penning system linked by a secure race)
- make it easy for inspectors to restrain and examine cattle, clip their hair, measure their skin thickness with callipers, and give them injections
- be in good working order
- be suitable for the size and breed of cattle that have to be tested
- be well-lit so inspectors can read ear tags and carry out the test
TB breakdown

APHA will declare a TB breakdown and your herd will lose its OTF status if:
- one or more of your animals fails a TB test - this animal is a ‘reactor’
- they find PCR (polymerase chain reaction) (https://tbhub.co.uk/tb-testing-cattle/pcr-test-for-detection-of-m-bovis-in-post-mortem-tissue-samples/) test (or culture, in the absence of PCR)-positive lesions of TB during a routine post-mortem meat inspection of an animal that you sent for slaughter
If there is a TB breakdown in your herd, APHA will tell you what extra testing is necessary and when to complete it. You will not have to pay for this testing, but it’s your responsibility to arrange for tests within the prescribed time.

APHA will tell your local authority if you fail to complete any test by the deadline date. The local authority is responsible for taking enforcement action required by APHA inspectors to control TB in your herd.

Officially TB free (OTF) status

APHA considers your herd to have OTF status if:
- you’re up to date with your routine TB testing
- they have no reason to suspect TB infection is present in your cattle
When OTF status is lost

Your herd’s OTF status will be lost if:
- at least one animal has failed the TB skin test (so is a reactor animal)
- at least one animal has given a positive result on a private interferon gamma blood test (these are also referred to as reactor animals throughout this guidance)
- at least one animal has 2 consecutive inconclusive skin test results
- the slaughterhouse, knacker’s yard or hunt kennel that you sent cattle to reports lesions typical of TB in the carcass or organs of one of those animals
- a TB test in your herd becomes overdue
- one of your animals shows possible clinical signs of TB and needs to be slaughtered before testing and then lesions typical of TB are found in the carcass
If at least one animal has had an inconclusive skin test result, it’s an inconclusive reactor and your herd’s TB free status is lost. Depending on the herd’s TB history in the previous 3 years:
- OTF status may be reinstated
- movement restrictions may be limited to the inconclusive reactor only while waiting for it to be re-tested
What happens when OTF status is lost

When your herd’s OTF status is lost APHA will:
- apply movement restrictions - this means you must not move cattle on or off your premises unless APHA gives you a licence to do so. To apply for a licence, complete the TB204 form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tb-restricted-cattle-application-for-movement-licence-in-england) and send it to APHA
- arrange the slaughter and post-mortem examination of any reactor animals to check for lesions caused by TB
- tell you to clean and disinfect areas of the farm after the reactors have been removed
- send you a form to complete and return to confirm that you have cleaned and disinfected
- tell you if you need to carry out more tests while keeping restrictions in place
TB reactors must not receive routine veterinary treatments unless your vet thinks it’s necessary.

Extra restrictions for dairy herds

If APHA apply movement restrictions to your herd, you must:
- notify anyone who sources the milk from your herd - this milk must be heat-treated before it can be used for human consumption
- make sure milk from reactors does not enter the human food chain (do not add it to the bulk tank)
- never sell unpasteurised milk from TB restricted herds directly to consumers or for use in making other products
Post-mortem inspection, PCR test and culture

The result of the post-mortem inspection on a reactor or direct contact (a non-reactor animal that APHA considers is at high risk of being infected with TB) will be either:
- visible lesions - lesions typical of TB were found in the carcass
- no visible lesions - no lesions typical of TB were found in the carcass, usually because the animal was infected shortly before slaughter and the lesions were too small to find. This does not mean that the animal was not infected
If meat inspectors in the slaughterhouse find lesions of TB in more than one organ or part of the carcass, it will be declared unfit for human consumption and condemned. You will still get compensation for that animal, as long as it has the correct ear tags and passport when it’s slaughtered.

APHA may carry out PCR, or culture, tests in the laboratory to try to identify bovine TB in tissue samples collected from the carcass. The result of that test may help APHA manage your breakdown. It could help decide what tests you or nearby farms need.

APHA will let you know once they have the PCR results - usually 3 weeks after your animal is slaughtered but in some cases this can be up to 16 weeks (if culture is required due to a PCR fail).

The TB breakdown in your herd is considered high risk (also known as ‘OTF status withdrawn’) if either:
- visible lesions of TB are found in the carcass of at least one reactor animal
- PCR, or culture, test results from at least one of the animals are positive for Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis, the bacteria that causes bovine TB)
High risk TB breakdowns

In high risk TB breakdowns, APHA will:
- reinterpret the original skin test results by lowering the positive cut-off point (‘severe interpretation’). This may lead to APHA removing other animals from the herd as test reactors
- consider slaughtering other (non-reactor) animals in your herd which are at high risk of being infected with TB (‘direct contact animals’)
- instruct you to clean and disinfect areas of the farm following the removal of all reactors and provide a form for you to confirm you’ve done this
- share post-mortem results with your local public health and environmental health authorities if your herd produces milk
- trace and test any animals moved from your herd to another premises during the time that APHA assesses that infection could have been present on your premises (‘spread or forward’ tracings). These animals may need to be tested but you will not need to arrange this
- trace and test any herds from which reactor animals in your herd may have come from (‘source or back tracings’)
- tell you if you need to take any other actions for your breakdown as soon as the PCR or culture results are known
- test any neighbouring herds or herds in your locality that they think could be at high risk of infection
- consider slaughtering high risk groups of cattle or all the cattle in your herd if the infection is severe or extensive. This is rarely done and only happens after risk assessment by APHA
Inspection after a TB breakdown

An APHA inspector or vet may visit your holding to:
- try to identify the source of the TB breakdown
- check if your animals have had contact with neighbouring herds, including non-bovine animals
- check if there are other TB susceptible species on the premises and whether they need to be tested
- explain what further testing is needed
- write a report on the outbreak
The inspector or vet will also advise you how to:
- reduce the risk of TB spreading within your herd and from wildlife to your cattle
- clear the infection so that restrictions can be lifted
- minimise the consequences of the TB breakdown for public health
- minimise the impact of the movement restrictions on your business
- apply for movement licences and explain what cattle movements may be approved
Information to show the inspector

When a vet or inspector visits to investigate a TB breakdown, you will need:
- livestock movement records that have not been recorded on the cattle tracing system, from at least 2 months before your last TB test with negative results
- any information that may help to identify the source of the disease and the risk of it spreading
Farm Level Data Report

If your herd is in the HRA or EA, APHA will send you a Farm Level Data Report a few weeks after the start of your breakdown. This report will provide a summary of the recent bovine TB history of your herd and movement of cattle onto your holding. You should share this with your vet. They can advise you during the TB breakdown and help stop it happening again in the future.

Inconclusive test results

Some of your cattle may have skin test results that are neither negative nor positive. These animals are classified as inconclusive reactors and re-tested.

You must isolate inconclusive reactors from the rest of your cattle straightaway until their re-test.

When a test finds inconclusive reactors, APHA will send you restriction notices:
- a TB2 notice explains the TB movement restrictions that will apply to your whole herd
- a TB34 notice explains the restrictions that will apply to inconclusive reactors
Inconclusive reactors in herds that are officially TB free

A herd loses its OTF status if a test finds inconclusive reactors. The whole herd will have to comply with TB restrictions until APHA reviews the herd’s TB testing history.

Your herd will remain under TB movement restrictions until the inconclusive reactors (animals with a TB skin test result that is neither negative nor positive) have been re-tested, if in the last 3 years it has had any of the following:
- reactors with lesions of TB at the post-mortem inspection
- animals with M. bovis positive PCR test
- animals with M. bovis positive culture
For herds without any of these breakdowns, APHA will reinstate OTF status. It will remove TB restrictions on the whole herd, but movement restrictions will still apply to the inconclusive reactors as set out in your TB34 restriction notice.

Re-testing and movement rules

APHA will write to you to tell you:
- the earliest date you can arrange a re-test
- the deadline for the re-test
- who must carry it out
The earliest date will be 60 days from the injection that gave the inconclusive result.

If the re-test gives a negative result, APHA will remove the herd’s or animal’s movement restrictions. Re-tested animals with negative results become resolved inconclusive reactors, and they can rejoin the herd.

Resolved inconclusive reactors will be under movement restrictions for the rest of their lives if they’re found in:
- the HRA
- the EA
- a TB breakdown herd in the LRA
APHA will send you a restriction notice (TB197) to tell you the rules you must follow for resolved inconclusive reactors.

You must keep them on land covered by the permanent county parish holding (CPH) number where they were found. Your restriction notice will tell you what to do if you use land on a temporary basis (under 12 months).

The only permitted movements for such animals will be to slaughter either directly or through an approved finishing unit (AFU). APHA’s general licence (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licence-for-the-movement-of-resolved-inconclusive-reactor-cattle-to-slaughter) allows resolved inconclusive reactors from herds with OTF status to move to slaughter or an AFU.

You will be breaking the law if you do not comply with these movement restrictions.

If the inconclusive reactor does not have a negative result on the re-test, it becomes a repeat inconclusive reactor or a reactor, and:
- the animal will be slaughtered
- APHA will send you a herd TB restriction notice (if you do not have one already)
- your herd will lose its OTF status
Inconclusive reactors in herds that are not officially TB free

If inspectors find inconclusive reactors at a TB test in herds without OTF status, APHA will:
- keep the herd movement restrictions in place
- write to you giving the earliest date for re-testing the inconclusive reactors, the deadline for the re-test and who must carry it out
- allow inconclusive reactors with a negative result on the re-test to rejoin the herd
- slaughter inconclusive reactors that do not have a negative re-test result and treat them like a TB reactor
The earliest date for a re-test will be 60 days from the injection that gave the inconclusive result. You can arrange the re-test when there’s another compulsory herd test.

Re-tested animals with negative results become resolved inconclusive reactors.

Resolved inconclusive reactors in herds that are not officially TB free

These animals will have movement restrictions for the rest of their lives if they’re in:
- the HRA
- the EA
- a TB breakdown herd in the LRA
APHA will send you a restriction notice (TB197) to tell you the rules you must follow. It will be separate from any other restriction notice you may have.

You must keep resolved inconclusive reactors on land covered by the permanent CPH number where they were found. Your restriction notice will tell you what to do if you use land on a temporary basis (under 12 months).

The only permitted movements for such animals will be to slaughter either directly or through an AFU.

You will be breaking the law if you do not comply with these movement restrictions.

In some high-risk TB breakdowns, APHA can decide to slaughter an inconclusive reactor as a direct contact without a re-test. You’ll receive compensation for these animals. A direct contact is a non-reactor animal that APHA considers is at high risk of being infected with TB.

For example, this could apply to an animal that’s been in:
- a group of cattle where there have been a large number of reactors
- close contact with a reactor that had extensive lesions of TB at a post-mortem inspection
Remove restrictions for resolved inconclusive reactors

Life-long restrictions for inconclusive reactors can be lifted if an interferon gamma blood test is performed with negative results. The sample for the blood test needs to be collected on or after the day the animal is injected for the re-test.

You can pay privately for the interferon gamma blood test or use a government-funded surveillance test.

If you ask your vet to do the test, they must get permission from APHA before they do it.

If the test result is negative, APHA will remove the movement restrictions on the resolved inconclusive reactors. They will be able to move off the holding unless movement restrictions apply to the whole herd.

If the test result is not negative:
- the animal will be slaughtered as a reactor animal
- APHA will apply TB movement restrictions to the whole herd if they’re not already in place
Animals too young to test

You cannot use an interferon gamma blood test on resolved inconclusive reactors under 6 months old as their immune systems are still developing and may give a false result.

You can ask APHA to delay the test until the animal is old enough. You must contact APHA to discuss your request. APHA will assess each request individually.

Contact APHA using the Defra Rural Services Helpline on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Slaughter and compensation

APHA will arrange valuation and slaughter of any reactors, repeat inconclusive reactors or direct contacts.

You will get compensation for these animals if they have the correct ear tags and passports, even if the carcass is condemned at slaughter because it has extensive lesions of TB.

You will not receive compensation for any animal that will be slaughtered for TB reasons, but which dies while still on your holding.

APHA will contact or visit you before the animals are slaughtered to confirm how much compensation you will be paid.

How much compensation you will get

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) uses market prices to work out how much compensation you will get for cattle slaughtered to control bovine TB.

At the start of each month Defra publishes a table showing the compensation rates (average market prices) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-historical-compensation-value-tables) for that month in each of the 51 cattle categories.

The cattle categories are based on an animal’s:
- age
- sex
- pedigree status
- type - from the beef or dairy sector
If there isn’t enough price data for a category you will be paid either:
- the most recently available table value for that category
- an amount decided by a valuer who is nominated by APHA or the president of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Your animal is only classed as pedigree if it has a full pedigree certificate issued by a recognised breed society before the date the animal was identified as a reactor or a direct contact.

If you want pedigree compensation rates you must send the pedigree certificate to APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) within 10 days of APHA identifying your animal as a reactor or a direct contact.

If the pedigree certificate is available online, APHA may be able to use that to confirm the animal’s status.

Reduced compensation

If you fail to get your cattle tested on time and the test becomes 60 days or more overdue, you’ll receive less compensation for any cattle that have to be slaughtered for TB reasons.

Your compensation will be reduced if there are delays of:
- 61 to 90 days - you’ll get 25% less compensation
- 91 to 180 days - you’ll get 50% less compensation
- more than 181 days - you’ll get 95% less compensation
If an animal has moved on to your holding during your current TB breakdown and is subsequently removed as a TB reactor, repeat inconclusive reactor or direct contact before the breakdown has concluded, you will receive 50% less compensation for that animal.

The exception to this will be herds registered under a bovine TB health scheme accredited under the Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS), providing accreditation was gained prior to loss of OTF status.

If any reactor, inconclusive reactor or direct contact cannot be processed at the slaughterhouse because it is too dirty you will receive 50% less compensation for that animal.

Multiple reductions may be applied.

In all cases where testing is overdue the compensation payable will be reduced by the relevant amount (25%, 50% or 95%). If the animal was also brought in, a further 50% reduction will be applied to the already reduced amount. No further reduction will then apply if the animal is then found to be unclean at slaughter.

If prior to slaughter the only reduction applicable is for overdue testing and the animal is then found to be unclean at slaughter, a 50% reduction will be applied to the already reduced amount.

If prior to slaughter the only reduction applicable is because the animal was brought into the herd then the compensation will be reduced by 50%. No further reduction will apply if the animal is then found to be unclean at slaughter.

Slaughter arrangements

In most cases APHA will arrange for TB affected cattle to be collected and slaughtered.

APHA’s contracted haulier will contact you and agree a date to remove your cattle. You should help them with loading.

You must ensure that:
- cattle to be slaughtered have ear tag numbers which match their documentation
- you present the right cattle for collection or slaughter - you will not get compensation if you send the wrong animal for slaughter
- your cattle are clean enough to slaughter in line with the food hygiene regulations (https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/cleaner-cattle-and-sheep)
- your cattle are spray marked with an orange stripe along the back if moving to a slaughterhouse in Scotland
- you present the correct documents to the haulier as instructed by APHA
Delayed removal of in-calf cattle

You can ask APHA to delay removing a reactor or direct contact from your herd if it’s a cow or heifer in the last 60 days of pregnancy. This is to allow the animal to calve. The 60-day period starts from when the animal was identified as a reactor or direct contact.

APHA will consider the risks of delaying removal and will require you to meet certain conditions (see the Owner Declaration TB212 form) before it will give approval.

If APHA agrees that a delay may be possible, you and your vet need to complete and comply with the conditions in these forms:
- Veterinary Declaration (TB211) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e5936b9d3bf7f06fdd6f89e/veterinary-declaration-tb211.odt) (ODT, 35.5 KB)
- Owner Declaration (TB212) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e5936add3bf7f0700fef9cd/owner-declaration-tb212.odt) (ODT, 30.1 KB)
On-site slaughter of cattle not fit to travel

In exceptional cases (if your animal is unfit to travel or unfit for human consumption) APHA will arrange for the animal to be slaughtered on your premises.

APHA will also arrange removal of the carcass and for a post-mortem examination to be conducted at a disposal site.

APHA will contact you and agree a date for the slaughter.

You must make sure that you present the right cattle for slaughter. You will not get compensation if you present the wrong cattle for slaughter.

Arrange slaughter yourself

You can arrange the slaughter and removal of animals yourself.

You will not get any compensation, but you may keep any salvage payments from the slaughterhouse. These are payments for the carcass if it is fit for human consumption. If the animal is totally condemned at slaughter for reasons of TB, APHA will pay compensation for the animal. You will need to tell APHA if this has happened. The amount of compensation will be calculated explained in How much compensation you’ll get (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bovine-tb-getting-your-cattle-tested-in-england#slaughter-and-compensation).

You will need to contact APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) and tell them you’ve decided to have the animal slaughtered privately. APHA will explain the process you need to follow.

Tell APHA when and where you’re having the animal slaughtered. If the animal is going to a non-contracted slaughterhouse, you’ll need to get written confirmation from the slaughterhouse and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that slaughter can proceed. APHA will provide you with an agreement form (TR558) for this.

Contracted slaughterhouses are where APHA routinely sends reactors to slaughter.

APHA will then give you a licence to move the animal to the slaughterhouse and arrange a post-mortem examination.

The animal must be slaughtered within 10 working days from the date if:
- it was found to be a reactor or repeat inconclusive reactor
- APHA notified you that it needs to be removed as a direct contact
If the animal has not left the farm within 15 working days, APHA will arrange removal. Standard removal and compensation procedures will apply.

Before moving animals to the slaughterhouse, you’ll need to check that:
- the ear tag numbers on the forms match the numbers on the animals’ official ear tags
- the ear tag numbers match those on the corresponding passports
- your cattle are spray marked along the back with an orange stripe if moving to a slaughterhouse in Scotland
Your cattle must be clean enough to slaughter, in line with food hygiene regulations (https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/cleaner-cattle-and-sheep).

Arranging private slaughter of inconclusive reactors

You can also arrange to have an inconclusive reactor slaughtered before it is re-tested at your own expense. You will need to get a licence from APHA for the animal to travel to the slaughterhouse.

Contact APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) at least 5 days before the date of the slaughter to get a licence to move the animal to the slaughterhouse.

You’ll need to tell APHA when and where you’re having the animal slaughtered.

If the animal is going to a non-contracted slaughterhouse, you’ll need to get written confirmation from the slaughterhouse and the FSA that slaughter can proceed. APHA will provide you with an agreement form (TR558) for this purpose.

Contracted slaughterhouses are where APHA routinely sends reactors to slaughter.

APHA may request you get your herd re-tested if:
- you privately slaughter an inconclusive reactor rather than wait for its test
- the animal dies before the re-test is completed
This may prolong herd movement restrictions if they are already in place. Ask APHA about this when you’re getting your licence.

After the animal is slaughtered, APHA will have it inspected for TB at the slaughterhouse and samples may be taken for testing. If extensive lesions of TB are found at the post-mortem examination, the carcass may be condemned and no salvage payment paid. You may be charged for disposal.

You will not get compensation if:
- you privately slaughter an inconclusive reactor
- the animal dies on your premises before the re-test
If an inconclusive reactor dies on the farm or you have to cull it for its own welfare, you must notify APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) as soon as possible. APHA may arrange for a post-mortem examination to be carried out.

The interferon gamma blood test

In specific circumstances, the interferon gamma blood test is used with the skin test to find and remove TB infected animals sooner. This reduces the risk of further spread of disease.

The tuberculin skin test is the primary test used to screen cattle. The interferon gamma test is an additional approved test. It’s used on veterinary advice mostly in herds with:
- severe breakdowns
- persistent or recurrent TB problems
- breakdowns in areas where TB incidence is low
Interferon gamma tests have to be completed before movement restrictions can be removed from the herd.

APHA staff carry out statutory interferon gamma tests. Usually it will be an Animal Health Officer who will take blood samples from your cattle.

Since 1 September 2025, APHA offers government-funded voluntary IFN-y testing (https://tbhub.co.uk/tb-testing-cattle/blood-testing/interferon-gamma-blood-testing-of-cattle/) to certain cattle keepers in the HRA or parts of the edge area that are on six-monthly testing in England, whose herds have had their OTF status withdrawn (OTFW) due to a TB breakdown.

In England, private interferon gamma testing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/private-interferon-gamma-ifn-y-testing-for-bovine-tuberculosis-tb-in-england) is also available subject to authorisation by APHA. You can ask your vet to carry out this testing.

Cattle that test positive to the interferon gamma test are classed as reactors. They are valued, removed and slaughtered in the same way as skin test reactors.

The IDEXX antibody test

APHA use the IDEXX antibody test to identify TB infected animals in herds with long duration TB breakdowns. It’s used where after repeat skin and interferon gamma testing the herd fails to regain its OTF status.

Not all TB infected animals respond positively to the skin test or the interferon gamma test.

The IDEXX test detects antibodies in TB infected cattle. The animal must have had a skin test 10-30 days before the blood sample.

In England, IDEXX testing is available privately subject to authorisation by APHA. You can ask your vet to carry out this testing.

Read more about Exceptional Private Testing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/private-non-validated-or-unapproved-tb-tests-for-cattle-in-england).

How to regain OTF status

If your herd loses its OTF status because of an overdue TB test, it will usually only be necessary to complete that test with a negative result before your herd is considered TB free again.

If your herd loses its OTF status because TB reactors were found at a skin or blood test, APHA will carry out a series of short interval tests on your herd. The number of tests and the interpretation of those tests depends on the status of your herd.

Authorised vets or ATTs will test all cattle in your herd except calves younger than 42 days, every 60 days. Usually, this testing will start 60 days from the date of the last reactor, inconclusive reactor, direct contact or other infected animal left your herd.

In some circumstances APHA will need to test calves under 42 days old.

Your herd must have 2 consecutive short interval skin tests with negative results to regain its OTF status. If your herd is in the LRA of England and APHA considers the breakdown to be lower risk, you’ll only need to complete one skin test to regain OTF status.

To decide how many tests your herd must complete, a veterinary inspector will assess the:
- geographical location of your herd - whether your herd is located in the LRA, HRA or EA
- previous TB testing history of your herd
- results of any post-mortem examinations or PCR, or culture, from previous reactors in your herd
- PCR results from animals found with typical TB lesions at routine slaughter
- TB situation in herds surrounding you - this includes non-bovine farmed animals
Contact APHA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening) if you have questions about how many short interval tests your herd must complete before regaining OTF status.

Cleansing and disinfection

With the removal of all bovine TB reactors and direct contacts, you must cleanse and disinfect the:
- premises
- facilities
- vehicles
- equipment
To restore your herd’s OTF status, you’ll need to complete the cleansing and disinfection declaration form (BT05) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tb-restricted-cattle-declare-cleansing-and-disinfection-in-england) and send it to APHA. If you do not send the form to APHA, it may delay the removal of herd restrictions.

When visiting an affected farm, APHA inspectors may check that cleansing and disinfection has been completed as required.

After your herd regains OTF status

If your herd is located in an annual or 4-yearly testing area, you’ll be required to complete an extra TB test. This will be at a shorter interval than your normal routine test interval. This is because APHA must closely monitor the infection status of your herd in the period following the TB breakdown. This test is done between 6 and 12 months after your herd regained OTF status.

If the results of this test are negative, your herd will either return to routine testing intervals, or may require a second extra test. The second extra test is done 12 months after the first extra test. If the results of this test are also negative, your herd will return to routine testing intervals.

When deciding how many tests you must complete, a veterinary inspector assesses the:
- geographical location of your herd - whether your herd is located in the LRA, HRA or EA
- previous TB testing history of your herd
- results of any post mortem examinations or PCR, or culture, from previous reactors in your herd
- PCR results from animals found with typical TB lesions at routine slaughter
- TB situation in herds surrounding you - this includes non-bovine farmed animals
APHA will contact you to tell you when these tests are required. You won’t have to pay for these tests.