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DTS Food Labs, the largest food and dairy testing lab in Australia, is helping dairy producers manage mastitis by offering a new testing service. Based on a very sensitive bacterial identification method using multiplex real
time PCR, the RtMastitis PCR testing service was launched
by DTS Food Labs in April 2011.

According to Dean Baylis, GMO / allergen business unit manager at DTS Food Labs, convenience is the key selling point of this new service: “Ease of sample submission
and fast turn-around time makes the test a value tool for the dairy industry.”

Baylis has worked in scientific research and development for 12 years and is now responsible for introducing the RtMastitis PCR test at DTS Food Laboratories.

The RtMastitis test fits well with other services offered by DTS, particularly with the Farmer Payment Testing Services and Herd Improvement Program testing. The RtMastitis PCR test uses real-time PCR (RtPCR) technology to rapidly identify mastitis-causing bacteria from bovine milk.

Speed

Samples received at DTS by 8am can have results available on the same day, providing a potential 24hr turnaround from sampling on farm to result.

Convenience

The RtMastitis PCR test can be used for analysis of fresh and bronopol preserved bovine quarter milk samples, herd recording samples and bulk tank samples. DTS Food
Laboratories can provide sample tubes containing bronopol, which eliminates bacterial growth, enabling room temperature shipping.

Accuracy

Bacterial DNA from live, growth inhibited or dead bacteria can be detected, which provides results for many samples that would otherwise show ‘no growth’ in conventional bacterial culture. Simultaneous detection of all targeted bacteria present in the milk sample overcomes the common problem of ‘mixed growth’ results of bacterial culturing.

Testing options

RtMastitis major-3 PCR test: precise identification of three key contagious mastitis-causing bacteria:

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus agalactiae
  • Mycoplasma bovis

RtMastitis complete-12 PCR test: precise identification of the most common mastitis-causing bacteria and the penicillin resistance gene:

  • Streptococcus uberis
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Staphylococcus sp.
  • Beta-lactamase penicillin resistance gene
  • Streptococcus agalactiae
  • Streptococcus dysgalactiae
  • Escherichia coli
  • Enterococcus sp.
  • Klebsiella sp.
  • Corynebacterium bovis
  • Serratia marcescens
  • Arcanobacterium pyogenes and/or Peptoniphilus indolicus