The Brucellin Skin Test (BST) is a cell-mediated immune assay which is based on the use of purified and standardised protein allergen, almost completely devoid of lipopolysaccharide. The BST relies on the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction whose results are interpreted 48 and 72 hours post brucellin injection in small Ruminants and Cattle respectively.

Therefore an animal is restrained twice: to administer brucellin, and to read the result. 

 

The present document describes a standard technique aiming at controlling the fulfilment of OIE and EU requirements regarding the standardisation of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (IELISA) kits for the detection of antibodies specific to smooth Brucella species (especially B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis) in bovine tank milk.