APHA expands bluetongue testing as UK cases hit 630

Bluetongue testing has been stepped up at APHA’s Weybridge laboratories as authorities respond to growing demand during the current outbreak.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency is now testing samples alongside The Pirbright Institute, the National Reference Laboratory for bluetongue, in a move designed to speed up the delivery of results.

The expansion comes as the number of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) cases in the UK reaches 630 for the 2026/27 season.

England accounts for 587 cases, with 34 recorded in Wales and nine in Scotland. No cases have been reported in Northern Ireland, while there have also been no confirmed cases of bluetongue serotype 8 (BTV-8) during the current season.

A case is defined as a premises where at least one animal has been diagnosed as positive for bluetongue.

APHA said its Weybridge site already has high-containment laboratories capable of handling serious livestock and animal diseases under containment level 3 of the UK’s Specified Animal Pathogens Order.

The agency leads the response to animal disease outbreaks affecting the UK and is an international reference laboratory for 18 major diseases, including avian influenza and rabies. It is also a national reference laboratory for 49 diseases, including salmonella and bovine TB.

Increasing testing capacity during major outbreaks forms part of APHA’s wider disease response planning.

Farmers and animal keepers should continue sending bluetongue samples to The Pirbright Institute, although some will now be redirected to Weybridge for testing.

Submission forms must be securely attached to the outside of parcels so samples diverted to Weybridge can be quickly entered into the digital handling system without first taking the parcel inside the high-containment laboratory.

Results will continue to be reported through the existing process.

Where animals showing suspected clinical signs are reported, Defra funds diagnostic testing for up to three affected animals.

APHA Weybridge and The Pirbright Institute will also continue testing samples for other exotic notifiable diseases. Livestock keepers should continue reporting any suspected cases to APHA, with both laboratories remaining prepared to respond to future disease incursions.

The additional testing capacity comes as the government progresses a longer-term investment of more than £1 billion to transform the Weybridge facilities and develop a National Biosecurity Centre.

The new science hub is intended to provide an “end to end” capability covering prevention, research and outbreak response.

The government says the centre will strengthen the UK’s ability to respond to growing threats from animal and zoonotic diseases, while supporting animal health science and protecting trade in animal products worth an estimated £16 billion a year to the UK economy.

There will be a slight difference in the wording used on bluetongue test reports depending on which laboratory processes a sample.

Results from APHA will state “BTV”, while reports from The Pirbright Institute will state “BTV-3”. A positive result sent directly to the recipient can be treated as BTV-3 in either case.

Testing for other bluetongue serotypes will also be carried out where necessary, with confirmatory testing undertaken before any other serotype is formally confirmed and reported through APHA.

A bluetongue case map is also available showing premises across Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive for the disease by PCR.