title: Development of in vitro tests for detection of extraneous agents.
abstract: The use of animals in tests to detect extraneous agents is not only undesirable from the ethical viewpoint but also because of the expense and length of time involved in such tests. We have carried out tests on a variety of potential contaminating avian pathogens to determine whether tests in chicks offer any advantage over tests in embryos or cell cultures. In many cases, but not all, in vitro tests were shown to be more sensitive. The use fluorescent antibody or enzyme-linked assays serves to enhance the sensitivity of the tests. In the future it may be possible to adapt techniques such as nucleic acid hybridisation to the detection of extraneous agents.
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D001350:Encephalomyelitis Virus, Avian / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D001351:Infectious bronchitis virus / Q000032:analysis; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000032:analysis