APHA
APHA’s quality assurance checks have identified multiple instances where cattle were recorded on SAM as having been tested more than once on the same farm within a 60-day period. These cases often involve tests conducted in multiple parts over several days. APHA is currently investigating the underlying causes.
APHA Briefing Note 36/25 – ‘Duplicate TB test submissions’ has been released and is available at Briefing Note 36/25.
APHA Briefing Note 37/25 – ‘Request for TT OVs and ATTs to review their personal details, including Veterinary Delivery Partnership (VDP)status on their Improve International training record’ has been released and is available at Briefing Note 37/25.
KPI Failure
Non Bovine tests to be entered on SAM
We have highlighted that the WSA’s for our non bovine tests are being missed.
The test charts are posted/emailed to APHA, however many of you are missing the WSA on SAM.
To try and combat this issue, we are requesting that all practices/OV’s copy Iechyd Da into the email submission so that we can then monitor the WSA submission PRIOR to it becoming a KPI failure.
Please help us to keep on top of KPI failures.
Cymorth Vouchers
Cymorth TB WSA’s
Thank you to all that have been completing the vouchers via Dewin.
The decline/accept is working well to allow APHA the time to forward the relevant paperwork. We ask that APHA have a minimum of 48hours to prepare the documentation.
We are however still having large numbers of Cymorth WSA’s that are laying untouched and these are eventually deleted by APHA.
Please can you all ensure that your farmers are contacted and the vouchers are accepted or declined in a timely manner.
ALERT
Test Interpretation
APHA have highlighted a number of tests that have been entered under the incorrect interpretation.
Please remember OVs disclosing one or more first skin reactors in an Officially TB Free (OTF) status or OTF Suspended status (OTFS) herd in Wales should reinterpret the test at severe, carry out any future parts of the same test at severe interpretation (previous parts of the same test will be reinterpreted by APHA) and apply a DNA marking tag to all reactor animals, including severe reactors (this includes those standard IRs that become severe reactors at re-interpretation, if possible).
Ensure that you apply to animals already read, and inform the keeper of any changes to animals that have already been read.
OV Instructions
Whole life restrictions
Bovine TB – Whole life restrictions on resolved standard interpretation Inconclusive Reactors (IRs)
From 1 January 2026, all standard interpretation IRs that have a negative result will be restricted for the rest of their life.
This affects all standard interpretation IRs that have a negative result under standard interpretation at the re-test. They will be restricted to the holding on which they were found.
The only permitted off movements for such animals are to a slaughterhouse or Approved Finishing Unit (AFU). The cattle can move directly, via an approved slaughter gathering, or via a TB dedicated sale (orange market).
