Positive: A positive blood sample confirms active infection, usually clinical. Age at infection
and species will determine disease progression and outcome. Most older, non-susceptible species survive,
reverting to a negative, naturally protected state. Retesting with a blood sample to insure against a
positive state is suggested in 60 to 90 days.
Low Level Positive: LLPs confirm infection, but most do not exhibit clinical signs. Many LLPs are
previous exposures, with immune systems that are actively processing the virus. Most progress to a negative,
naturally vaccinated state. They may intermittently shed virus during this stage and should be housed
accordingly. Retesting with a blood sample in 45 to 60 days is necessary to confirm these animals are not
carriers.
Negative: Negative results confirm no organism present at time of testing.
Positive: Positive swabs confirm virus presence, but do not reflect clinical or sub-clinical
infection. They are shedding virus, and appropriate care must be taken. Most will revert to a negative status.
Retest with a blood sample in 45 to 60 days to ensure a negative status has been achieved.
Low Level Positive: Virus is detected at a low level. Most are not clinical, but are actively shedding.
Care must be taken when housing. Retest with a blood sample in 45 to 60 days to ensure a negative status has
been achieved.
Negative: A negative swab only confirms no organism is being shed at the time it was taken. It will not
reflect a current status of infection or a carrier state which may intermittently shed virus.
Blood: A blood sample is definitive for infection status. Positive birds may be negative on swab, as
swabs can only detect current shedding activity. Environmental exposures may test positive by swab.
Post Mortem: Swabs from liver and other organs provide the best samples. These swabs are excessively
"hot," confirming disease.
Environmental Testing: Procedure is the same for all organisms. Thorough swabbing of environment is
necessary for accurate results (cage corners, a/c vents, and other areas not easily or recently cleaned).
When determining clean-up efforts, swabs should be tested individually to confirm success in various locations.