The IDEXX Bluetongue Competition Ab Test detects antibodies specific to the bluetongue virus (BTV) in individual sheep, goat and cattle sera. It is based on competition between the serum to be tested and a monoclonal antibody, which is coupled to the peroxidase and directed to the N-terminal part of the VP7 protein, a major core protein of the BTV (specific for the BT serogroup).
This method is easy to implement, rapid and reliable, and it is particularly suited to analyzing a large number of samples. As no international standard for serum is available, the detectability has been settled on a French standard (J63) proposed by the CIRAD (Montpellier), which is the international reference laboratory for this disease.
The test should give a positive reaction with dilution at 1:4, positive, doubtful or negative result with dilution at 1:8 and negative result with the dilution at 1:16 of this French standard.