HerdChek® PRVgB Antibody Test Kit
A better screening tool for disease eradication

Pseudorabies is caused by type 1 porcine herpesvirus. It is usually an acute and fatal neurologic disease of mammals, with the exception of swine, in which the disease may be mild or subclinical. The pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a stable virus that sheds abundantly in nasal and oral secretions, and can remain infectious for months at cold temperatures (e.g., 39°F or 4°C), or for weeks at cool temperatures (e.g., 64°F or 18°C). PRV is transmitted mainly by direct contact with other infected swine, and spread with the help of contaminated fomites. This disease is still considered endemic in many parts of the world.

INFORMATION SHEETS View the PRVgB information sheet. (241 KB)   FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on our swine products please visit our U.S. Web site.

Due to the variability of the clinical signs, a field diagnosis of pseudorabies should always be confirmed by laboratory tests. Different tests have been approved by countries and agencies for disease control; these are: the fluorescent antibody tissue section (FATS) test and virus isolation for the detection of the virus in selected tissues; and virus serum neutralization (VSN), latex agglutination (LAT), particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA) and ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies in serum.

Some ELISAs have been designed to differentiate serum antibodies in response to vaccination from those caused by infection with the field virus. These types of ELISAs have been used as a screening tool in the early stages of disease eradication, but when the eradication programs have advanced and vaccination with marker vaccines is prohibited, there is a need for a tool that detects antibodies of Aujeszky-vaccinated and Aujeszky-infected animals, such as the HerdChek PRVgB Antibody Test Kit.

• Blocking format ELISA
• Based on glycoprotein B reactivity
• Uses an anti-gB monoclonal antibody conjugate that eliminates the need for verification assays inherent in indirect format ELISAs
• Identical protocol to the IDEXX HerdChek* PRVgI test
• Offers better specificity and similar sensitivity to the current USDA-licensed indirect ELISAs based on total anti-PRV antibody detection (HerdChek* PRV Antibody Screening Test Kit and HerdChek* PRV Antibody Verification Test Kit)
• Samples and kit-supplied controls are diluted 1:2 in sample diluent at time of testing
• Short and overnight protocols are offered
• Uses an S/N (sample OD/negative control OD) ratio calculation

• The IDEXX HerdChek PRVgB Test Kit demonstrates:
  – High specificity (99.5–100%)
  – High sensitivity (99.5%)
  – Better balance between specificity and sensitivity
  – Good correlation to HerdChek PRV Screening and PRV Verification
• A single-well format that eliminates nonspecific reactivity (no normal host cell well reactivity)
• Easy-to-use strip plates and two protocols: short and overnight
• Serum-, plasma- and meat juice-validated sample types
• Tested under European and U.S. serum sample conditions
• Meets standards from the French PRV OIE laboratory for detectability
• A reliable screening tool, reducing the need for a confirmatory retest; a better ELISA screening tool for disease eradication