USDA Approves Tonsil ASF Testing

October 3, 2018 — 

In order to increase the list of sample types approved for African swine fever (ASF) PCR in National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) labs and to include a sample available from deceased pigs, tonsil will officially be added to the list of approved samples for ASF PCR. As of October 1, 2018, both whole blood and tonsil are approved for ASF PCR in a foreign animal disease (FAD) investigation only at NAHLN labs approved for ASF testing. A surveillance testing plan is being developed and will be announced once it is finalized. Until then, the only ASF testing that should occur in NAHLN labs is within an FAD investigation.