PortaSCC Milk Test

Description

MOORESTOWN, N.J. (August 19, 2004) — PortaCheck, a division of PortaScience Inc., introduces the PortaSCC® milk test, a quantitative on-farm somatic cell test for sub-clinical mastitis screening. This patented product provides digital readouts with accuracy comparable to reference laboratories. However, results are available in minutes, not days. Producers can use it on individual quarters, composites or bulk tank samples.

“Traditionally, producers used a laboratory to determine udder health status. Today, the PortaSCC milk test is more convenient and cost effective than sending samples to labs, and it’s far less expensive than any other quantitative test currently available,” says Dr. Wai Law, President of PortaScience. “Producers can now test whatever they want whenever they want — they can manage their herd the way they want with this affordable, convenient somatic cell count test.”

During research studies using approximately 600 quarter and composite samples from 200 cows, the University of Guelph concluded that the PortaSCC milk test is an accurate on-farm method of estimating somatic cells. “The high predictive value of a negative test makes it useful for on-farm decision-making,” says Dr. Ken Leslie, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph. The University of Wisconsin-Madison also is testing the product, and preliminary data is promising.

Easy to use, the product requires only one drop of milk and less than one minute of hands-on time. Using a plastic pipette, producers just drop the milk sample onto the test absorptive area, followed by three drops of activator solution. The test strip is designed to detect elevated levels of white blood cells in raw milk. Used alone, the strips can provide cell ranges from 0 to <200,000; 200,000 to <750,000; 750,000 to 2 million; and >2 million. Or, using the handheld digital reader, a producer can obtain quantitative results.

“Use it at dry off and freshening, on first-calf heifers and suspicious cows, or monitor a treated cow,” says Law. “Check the entire herd by testing the bulk tank. It’s also a cost-effective preventative management tool for doing monthly herd health screening.”

PortaCheck is a wholly owned division of PortaScience Inc, a privately owned developer of point-of-care (POC) tests for both the human and animal diagnostic testing markets. Headquartered in Moorestown, N.J., the company brings together a highly skilled and experienced group of scientists and engineers who have gone beyond the typical dipstick and lateral flow technologies to develop truly unique state-of-the-art products. Attesting to this level of sophistication are the eight SBIR government research grants and three U.S. patents granted since their inception.

Advantages

On Farm Convenience:
With this product, you can test whenever you want, whenever the need arises – morning, noon or night, seven days a week. No more waiting for monthly screens to see critical SCC results.

Quantitative Results:
No subjective guesswork. With our low-cost hand-held Digital Reader, you get a numeric result, not some gooey glob.

Laboratory Accuracy:
We have demonstrated the ability to accurately read counts well below 100,000 cells/mL. More importantly, we are proud to report that our on-farm SCC test will give you results that are similar to lab results in terms of accuracy, so you can have as much confidence in the PortaSCC® milk test as you do in your testing lab.

Short Turnaround Time:
Results are available in minutes, not days. No longer do you have to delay action, waiting for data from a distant lab. Within an hour of collecting the sample, you can be taking the next step in fighting mastitis.

Easy To Use & No Disruptions:
The simple three step procedure (described in the Test Directions section) requires less than one (1) minute hands-on time and each step can be done when it is most convenient for you.

No special Storage:
There are no special storage requirements. The product can be kept at normal room temperature (even down to 59ºF), but it is best to keep out of direct sunlight.

Test Any Sample:
You are no longer limited by the inaccuracy of on-farm tests to measuring only quarters, nor are you limited by the cost of reference labs to only measuring large numbers of composite samples. With this product, you can measure quarters, composites, and bulk tank samples -- doing as many or as few tests as you need.

Many Applications:
Every time you have a need or a suspicion, you can use the PortaSCC® milk test. Use it at dry off and freshening, on first-calf heifers and suspicious cows, or monitor a treated cow. Check the entire herd by testing the bulk tank or by doing monthly herd health screens. Test a replacement cow before you buy.

Tested and Proven:
The Technical Information section provides a wealth of information about the testing and verification that this product has undergone by leading institutions like the University of Guelph and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Customer Testimonial page tells why those who are using it think you should try it.

Usage

Pictures