§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the shortest possible period in which the Animal Virus Research Institute can analyse from saliva and scabs taken from the mouths of animals whether foot-and-mouth disease is present by means of the animal inoculation test.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe shortest possible time is 24 hours, but results are more usually available in 48 hours. Negative results are not accepted until the test has run for 7 days.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, on receiving the bottle containing saliva and scabs taken from animals suffering from foot-and-mouth disease on 18th July last year from Flotterton Farm, near Rothbury, the complement fixation test, the test in tissue culture, and the test by animal inoculation were all immediately made.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe sample from Flotterton Farm was delivered by courier at Pirbright at 10.45 a.m. on 19th July, 1966. Tissue culture and mice were inoculated within one hour and the result of the complement fixation test on the original material was reported to the Animal Health Division of the Ministry of Agriculture at 12.30 p.m. on the same day.