Serological Testing for APHA

Rabies serological testing (virus neutralisation test) is required in some cases for the non-commercial movement of pets under Pet Travel Schemes (PETS). For the EU PETS, regulation 576/2013, states that the rabies serological test ‘must measure a level of neutralising antibody to rabies virus in serum equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml and using a method prescribed in the relevant part of the Chapter concerning rabies in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health’. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has suspended in-house rabies serological testing due to technical difficulties and requires another laboratory to carry out the testing on their behalf.