Appendix 11 Proposals for Phase XIX The main aim of this should be the organisation of two rounds of annual proficiency testing, one in 2005 and the other in 2006. A strong positive sheep and a strong positive pig serum will be prepared from infected but unvaccinated animals along with a negative serum from each species. For each species, a titration series will be prepared and tested by different NSP methods. If acceptable dose response curves are obtained, aliquots of the strong and weak positive sera will be sent to laboratories, for use as NSP standards. Efforts will be made to obtain bulk strong positive sera for the SAT serotypes. If necessary, these could be prepared at the WRLFMD, provided additional funding was made available. These strong positive sera could be distributed in the second year of the study for local titration and use as in-test control sera. In addition, a position paper should be drafted on the purpose and use of secondary standards and intest control sera. Proposal for 2005: 1. Concentrate on proficiency serum panel with serotypes O, A and Asia 1. 2. Aim to provide sheep and pig NSP strong positive sera. 3. Include more sera from vaccinated and infected animals, especially of serotype A. 4. Do not specify particular tests to be used, but rather invite labs to test sera with the methods that they would normally use. 5. Request that interpretation of results be given as if these samples were from animals being examined prior to import (i.e. when serotype/strain of infecting virus would be unknown). 6. Ask EUFMD Secretariat to identify participants and draw up agreement on terms of participation. 7. Make sera available to other participants on request, subject to payment for sera and shipping. 8. Send out serum panel in April 2005. 9. Prepare analysis of results in time for next closed meeting in September 2005. Proposal for 2006: 1. To be finalised at closed meeting in September 2005. 2. Aim to include SAT serotype proficiency sera. 3. Send out serum panel in April 2006. 4. Prepare analysis of results in time for next open meeting in October 2006.
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