USDA: Negative result in BSE test

[warrens]

Statement by John Clifford, Deputy Administrator- Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

November 23, 2004


"The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, has determined that the inconclusive screening test sample reported on Nov. 18 has tested negative for BSE upon confirmatory testing.

"The Nov. 18 sample is the first that has tested inconclusive under an APHIS protocol announced in August that calls for public reporting of screening results only after two reactive screens. NVSL used the immunohistochemistry (IHC) test, an internationally-recognized gold standard test for BSE, and received a negative result on Nov. 22. Because the Nov. 18 screening test results were reactive in both the first and second screens, NVSL scientists made the recommendation to run the IHC test a second time. On Nov. 23 they reported the second IHC test was negative. Negative results from both IHC tests makes us confident that the animal in question is indeed negative for BSE.

"APHIS began an enhanced surveillance program on June 1 and to date has tested over 121,000 samples for BSE. Screening tests are designed to be extremely sensitive and false positives are not unexpected. APHIS has reported three inconclusives including the Nov. 18 sample and all have tested negative on confirmatory testing."


A lot of people are going to be breathing a BIG sigh of relief.

[leftchick]

not me...

this US Government is the worst in the history of the USA. Their lying cheating ways are now legend to thinking people. Why in the world would I believe their teat results? Time for some independent testing... LOL!

[LSparkle]

1. Phew!

I have some ground beef (from an upscale market with its own meat department) that I was prepared to toss if the report came out the other way. Spaghetti and meatballs tonight!

[Eurobabe]

2. don't believe it -- we need a whistleblower at USDA

[bhikkhu]

8. Probably was a whistleblower...

"administrative approval" is now required prior to he release of such sensitive information. The idea being, they can find positives and not tell us, if they decide it is not in our best interests to know. This was an information-control policy begun across a wide spectrum of agencies earlier in the year.

But if something leaked, the obvious response is to announce it, re-test and find negative. If this makes me a conspiracy theorist, I have been given every reason to be.

[warrens]

3. I'm not a conspiracy theorist

But according to European experience data, the chance of this test being negative was 100,000:1.

[leesa]

4. Yah, I would believe these guys! The same ones that trashed

a company for wanting to test ALL their cattle like civilized countries do.

[Catchawave]

5. This doesn't make me feel better :(

We, the people, are still consuming "iffy" cows then?

[Greyskye]

6. Our family only buys...

...certified 'organic' beef, which has not been fed any animal byproducts. Not that we eat much beef anymore - and never at restaurants.

I work with a guy who's brother works in the meat-packing industry. According to him, 'iffy' meat routinely goes into the food supply. :puke:

The FDA is not your friend!

[Mark D]

7. Gotta keep folks calm and in the dark...

Vegan looks more and more appealing.