in-depth story on conflicting tests

[Jeannie]

reader(the Second)- "They sent the Washington cow to the UK to CONFIRM which is where they used the WB. They used the IHC when they initially detected the BSE, per Al Jenny's quote that I posted above. Does this make it all make sense?"

It still does not answer my original question. Why was Washington cow IMMEDIATELY tested with the Western Blot test, and the Texas cow(from last November) only NOW tested with the Western Blot???? :???:

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I can't help but wonder if she wasn't held back just in case she was needed to get the Canadian border opened. I know how that sounds, but I also know that Johannes has been talking about the border being opened as much as he has this new(old) possible case of BSE. This cow was destroyed last NOVEMBER, why do they even have samples of her? The timing is too convenient. Call me paranoid, but I think there are things going on in the USDA that none of us could even conceive of. I'm probably going to regret posting this, but..........

 

[Mike]

Well, I'll tell you what the conspiricists have been saying -- they have been upset that WB is not used routinely. They say that the USDA deliberately uses less sensitive tests (and tests subject to more interepretation) so as to stack the deck.

There was an article floating around a while back by some Canadian vet saying the the USDA uses less sensitive tests. Something about "microclonal antibodies" not being up to snuff.
This is not going to be good! Steve Mitchell is going to have a hayday!

 

[Sandhusker]

They wouldn't do that! Their focus is providing the US consumer with the best and safest food in the world! :wink:

 

[Mike]

They wouldn't do that! Their focus is providing the US consumer with the best and safest food in the world! :wink:

Oh Yea? Well read this and see if YOU become a blamer too.
_______________________________________________________
Jul 14, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – A draft report by the inspector general of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the department's expanded surveillance program for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has several flaws that could lead to unreliable estimates of the prevalence of BSE in American cattle.

The report says the plan is based on some questionable assumptions, does not accurately reflect the geographic distribution of cattle, and does not ensure the testing of all high-risk cattle. In addition, the report says that in the past 2 to 3 years, more than 500 cattle that had possible symptoms of neurologic disease were not tested for BSE.

"The problems disclosed during our review, if not corrected, may negatively impact the effectiveness of USDA's overall BSE surveillance program . . . and reduce the credibility of any assertions regarding the prevalence of BSE in the United States," the 54-page report states.