10 GOOD REASONS FOR VIROTYPE® BVDV

LDL – is a dependable partner when it comes to analysis, diagnostics and development for veterinary medicine. Our products help to reliably identify poultry and livestock diseases.

1. Highly reliable assay for BVD control

VIROTYPE® BVDV by LDL is a Real-time RT-PCR test kit for safe detection of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV). The kit has been approved in Germany and Switzerland.

2. Certified quality – Made in Germany

LDL operates to the highest standards of quality meeting GMP and GLP guidelines. Our R&D, Production and Sales departments are ISO 9001:2008 certified.

3. Dependable test procedure

VIROTYPE® BVDV enables the reliable detection of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus in cattle by means of Real-time RT-PCR in whole blood, plasma, serum, milk and ear tissue samples (individual and pooled samples).

Owing to the high sensitivity of VIROTYPE® BVDV, blood samples (whole blood, plasma, serum) can also be tested in pools consisting of up to 50 individual samples and ear tissue samples in pools of up to 25 separate samples. Milk samples can be tested as well in pools of up to 100 individual samples.
LDL's VIROTYPE® TLR tissue lysis buffer also allows ear tissue samples to be analysed simply and inexpensively without the need for time-consuming RNA extraction.

VIROTYPE® BVDV Product info (Update October 2011)
VIROTYPE® BVDV Manual (Update February 2011)
VIROTYPE® TLR Manual (Update April 2011)

LDL has developed a technique for the rapid and reliable analysis of ear tissue samples for Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) diagnosis. See VIROTYPE® BVDV and VIROTYPE® TLR in action on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/LaborDiagnostik

4. High specificity and sensitivity

VIROTYPE® BVDV has been designed as 'panpesti' Real-time RT-PCR. It specifically detects viral RNA of the pestivirus genus. The probe is positioned in a highly conserved part of the 5' non-translated region (5' NTR) of the genome and shows excellent correlation with all known pestivirus species.1  

VIROTYPE® BVDV detects genotypes 1 and 2 of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV 1, BVDV 2) as well as the atypical pestiviruses HoBi and Giraffe.

There are no known cross-reactions with other non-pestiviruses.  

The high analytical sensitivity of VIROTYPE® BVDV has been proven with a titration series of BVDV-in vitro RNA [2 x 108 copies/µl] using ten-fold dilution. In addition, when using VIROTYPE® BVDV, 1–10 copies can be detected per assay. The RNA copy number used correlates excellently with the amplification results, the coefficient of correlation being 0.997.

5. Detection of BVDV in calves in the diagnostic gap

Only Real-time RT-PCR can ensure the reliable identification of BVDV in calves
in the diagnostic gap.

When using Antigen-ELISA, persistently infected animals may be incorrectly diagnosed as negative, jeopardizing the success of controls.2 In addition, studies have revealed that when using the ERNS-ELISA on calves, incorrectly negative findings may be produced following the intake of colostrums.4, 5 

When analyzing ear tissue samples, mainly persistently infected animals are detected after rapid lysis. VIROTYPE® enables persistently infected animals to be separated from transiently BVDV-infected livestock by using the Ct level for the BVDV fluorescence signal. Expensive follow-ups on positive animals with a Ct < 30 are no longer necessary.3

6. Simple testing with ear tissue samples

•  No sample preparation necessary
•  Work is short and requires just a few steps
•  No complicated test conditions
•  Ear tissue samples can be left in containers or taken out of the container
    and placed in a sample test tube
•  Just add 200 µl ready-to-use VIROTYPE® TLR tissue lysis buffer to the ear tissue
    sample and incubate for 45 min
•  Sample lysate can be directly added to the PCR master mix

Unlike with ELISA, the results are available for the majority of samples on the very first day.

7. Certified batch quality and long shelf life

LDL delivers batches with a minimum shelf life of nine months. Shelf life from production is 18 months.

Every test kit is accompanied by a certificate of analysis, which therefore does not need to be separately downloaded from the Internet. In addition, a detailed validation report is available, for example for the accreditation of the test kit in the laboratory.
Studies made with tissue sampling ear tags by various ear-tag manufacturers (including Caisley and AllFlex) confirmed the reliable detection of BVDV after the ear tissue samples had been stored for three weeks at room temperature as well as after a week at 37°C in sampling vials.

8. Ideal for BVD control

Livestock epidemic control programs in Europe have been mostly carried out for more than a decade using Real-time PCR test kits to test individual and pooled samples for viruses such as BTV, BVDV, CSFV and influenza.

VIROTYPE® BVDV Real-time RT-PCR is ideal for BVD control – and since being launched in 2007 has replaced the BVDV ERNS-ELISA in many laboratories. In Switzerland alone, more than 70% of all ear tissue samples are tested for BVD using Real-time PCR (cf. Fig. 1).6

Number of BVD AG tests using PCR and ELISA in Switzerland

Fig. 1: Studies in calving and monitoring phase (cattle born between 1 October 2008 and September 2010)


Established

Real-time RT-PCR is an established technique and the equipment required is already available in many laboratories worldwide.  

Flexible

BVDV-RNA can be detected in serum, plasma, full blood, milk and ear tissue samples. The samples can be analysed manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically without laborious, time-consuming sample preparation.  

Ultra-efficient

VIROTYPE® BVDV is extremely economic. Example: Sample throughputs in BVD detection with VIROTYPE® BVDV and one laboratory assistant:

Minimized risk of contamination

The contamination risk is minimized by the use of the VIROTYPE® BVDV one-step single tube RT-PCR.    

Inexpensive

The RT-PCR method is an inexpensive alternative to individual tests done by/using ELISA. Each set of samples is a pool of up to 25 ear tissue samples.    

Available 

The BVDV ERNS Antigen ELISA is patented, meaning there is only one supplier. Laboratories opting for this testing system make themselves dependent in terms of cost and availability on one single provider. Many veterinary laboratories experienced in connection with the IBRgE-ELISA and PRRS-ELISA, how disadvantageous this can be.
In contrast, a number of approved test systems exist for BVDV assays using RT-PCR.

LDL guarantees the reliable provision and fast delivery of test kits for BVD through our distribution partner network.

Method of the future

Real-time RT-PCR used to study pool and individual samples is the method of the future and already common for testing CSFV, influenza and BTV.  

Environmental protection  

Whereas BVDV Antigen ELISA entails the expensive storage and disposal of large quantities of sample diluent, washing solution and conjugate as well as substrate and stop solution, VIROTYPE® BVDV is far simpler to use and causes much less waste.

9. More than just a test kit

LDL provides complete solutions for reliable BVD diagnosis.
Features of the BVDV Pool-Manager software available from LDL include the simple automatic control of laboratory equipment, the easy production and dissolution of pools, and the tracking of sample IDs. The software can also be used for other pool PCR protocols.  

In addition, an expert English speaking technical service team is available to answer any queries you have about the software and kits.

10. We're here to help you!

LDL is your dependable partner when it comes to analysis, diagnostics and development for veterinary medicine. We provide a full range of services for each VIROTYPE® BVDV test kit – and we're easy to reach for individual, expert advice. Just call us or send us an e-mail.

Selected references

VIROTYPE® BVDV Real-time PCR is increasingly replacing other methods of testing for BVDV. Laboratories in Germany and abroad rely on the high quality of VIROTYPE® BVDV Real-time PCR test kits, including:

Labor Zentral - AG für Veterinärmedizinische Diagnostik, Schweiz
Tiergesundheitsdienst Bayern e.V.
LUA Sachsen
Landesamt für Landwirtschaft, Lebensmittelsicherheit und Fischerei Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Bibliography

1  B. Hoffmann, K. Depner, H. Schirrmeier and M. Beer (2006) A universal heterologous internal control system for duplex real-time RT-PCR assays used  in a detection system for pestiviruses Journal of Virological Methods, Volume 136, Issues 1-2, Pages 200-209

2  Fux, R., C. Pfahler, M. Hellwig, R. Birlbauer, G. Wolf (2008): Ohrgewebediagnostik von BVDV-PI-Kälbern: Ist eine Sensitivität von 100% möglich? Arbeitskreis für veterinärmedizinische Infektionsdiagnostik (AVID), 27. Arbeits- und Fortbildungstagung Virologie, Bad Staffelstein/Kloster Banz, 17. - 19. 09.

3   Schroeder C, Gaunitz C, Dierchen B, Labitzke M, Gabert J (2009) Testing Mini-Ear Samples for BVDV – Experiences from Germany, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, San Diego  

4  Fux R, Wolf G (2010) BVDV-Diagnostik: Neues zum Einfluss maternaler Antikörper auf die Hautgewebeanalytik, Arbeitskreis für veterinärmedizinische Infektionsdiagnostik (AVID), 29. Arbeits- und Fortbildungstagung Virologie, Bad Staffelstein/Kloster Banz, 15. - 17. 09., Tagungsunterlagen, S. 27-28

5  Christian J, Kupča A, Drdlicek J, Bogner K. H. (2010): Fallbericht eines mittels ERNS-ELISA in der Ohr- stanze negativ untersuchten BVD-Virämikers, Arbeitskreis für veterinärmedizinische Infektionsdiagnostik (AVID), 29. Arbeits- und Fortbildungstagung Virologie, Bad Staffelstein/Kloster Banz, 15. - 17. 09

6  Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen BVET (2010), Schweiz