ELISA stands for Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. This assay is a rapid, high throughput test for antibodies, and requires just a blood sample. The blood sample can be taken from live fish (this needs to be by a qualified person).

The test results are normally returned within 10 working days of receiving blood samples. In the event of a disease outbreak results may take longer than 10 working days. You will be informed of any likely delays when you book.

This test is for as minimum of 10 fish. The fish do not have to be killed.

What does the test tell me?

Carp that have survived a KHV disease outbreak, or been vaccinated against KHV, will produce antibodies to the virus. The ELISA test detects these antibodies.

If your carp test negative, then this indicates they have not been exposed to KHV and are clear of the virus.

If your carp test positive, this doesn't automatically mean they are infected with KHV, but it indicates they have been exposed to the virus. Therefore, they should be considered to present a risk of carrying the virus and will have the potential to transmit the virus to other Koi or carp that have not been previously exposed to KHV, and to cause KHV disease in those fish.

How many fish should be sampled?

Either 20% of the fish population (batch, shipment, pond population, etc) or 10 fish, whichever is the greater number.

The minimum sample size is 10 fish.

For large sample sizes (e.g. populations of over 200 fish) please contact us for advice.

Example 1: For a population of 40 fish we will need 10 individual fish samples. (20% of 40 is only 8 fish, which is below our minimum sample size for the test.)

Example 2: For a shipment of 100 fish we will need 20 samples.

Please Note: That the more homogenous the original population (i.e. fish obtained from the same source) the more accurate this test becomes.

Additional note regarding vaccinated fish

Vaccines against KHV have been effective in reducing mortalities from the disease.  Current vaccines use an attenuated virus, which is a living virus that stimulates the immune system of vaccinated fish, without causing mortality (for example, until recently the polio vaccine in use in the UK was an attenuated virus).  Such vaccinated fish have been sold in many countries and offer protection against KHV.

However, there are areas of concern relating to those fish. Vaccinated fish cannot be distinguished by the antibody test from fish that have either survived a disease outbreak or those which may be infected with the virulent virus.  This will affect the outcome of our test using antibody detection, and will leave owners or potential purchasers of fish that test antibody-positive not knowing whether the fish have been vaccinated or are disease survivors or indeed potentially infected.

Therefore if you know your fish to have been vaccinated there is little value in ELISA testing and an alternative method should be used. If you are unsure please contact us by email or telephone.

info@cefastechnology.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1305 206600 and ask for “KHV ELISA”.

How to take samples

Blood samples must be taken by a veterinary surgeon or other suitably qualified person.

Samples for evaluation can be submitted ONLY as chilled blood serum samples. Serum is the liquid fraction of blood left after separation from the blood cells.

Blood samples of between 0.4 ml and 0.5 ml need to be taken from each fish.

The blood samples from each fish should be kept separate.

Samples must either be:

• Stored in suitable plastic or glass tubes in a refrigerator overnight at 4° to 10°C to allow the serum and blood cells to separate.
• The next day remove the serum (the liquid lying above the blood cells) with a pipette into a clean tube

Or

• Centrifuged after 1-2 hours.
  
  Minimum / maximum force: 500g – 1,000g
  For 5 to 10 minutes

How to send serum samples to CTL

Serum samples must be received within 48 hours of removal from the fish.

Serum samples must remain chilled between 2ºC and 12ºC during transport.

Please complete the online sample booking form (Word, 1.76 MB) and enclose with your samples.

The customer is responsible for all costs associated with the collection and transport of the samples.

Samples for testing can only be received from 08:30 to 17:00 Monday to Thursday.

Deliveries outside these times will be rejected unless by prior arrangement with CTL.

Using NEXT DAY DELIVERY send samples to:

KHV Testing/LS5
Sample Reception
New Haw
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 3NB

There are no importation issues if you wish to send blood samples from outside the UK, but within the EU for screening. If sending samples from outside the EU you WILL require an import licence – so please contact info@cefastechnology.co.uk in the first instance. Please be aware of the time constraints for the accuracy of the test.  Please contact us if you have any further concerns.

Results

Results will normally be returned by email within 10 working days of receipt of the samples.

Exceptions to this response time may occur on some occasions (e.g. Easter, Christmas, and disease outbreaks) If this occurs you will be informed of the delay and given an estimated date for the delivery of the result.

An email confirming the results will be sent to the email address on the order.

Results will only be released once your payment has been received by CTL.

Our contact details

If you have any questions or wish to discuss your requirements please contact us:

Email: info@cefastechnology.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1305 206600 and ask for “KHV ELISA”.

Pricing and ordering