• Login/Join
    • Login
    • Join Agri-TechE
Menu
  • Login/Join
    • Login
    • Join Agri-TechE
  • Home
  • About
    • About Agri-TechE
    • Stakeholder Group
    • Introductions to the agri-tech cluster
    • International
    • Agri-Tech Briefings
      • Controlled Environment Agriculture
      • Gene editing consultation – what does it mean for agri-tech?
      • Controlling light in farming
      • What is ELMs? Agri-Tech to support Environmental Land Management
    • Agri-TechE Newsletters
      • Sign up to the newsletter
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Agri-TechE activities, conferences and missions for 2022
    • REAP Conference 2022
    • Agri-Tech Week
    • Our Publications
  • Articles
    • Agri-tech News
    • Member News
    • Monthly Musings
    • Innovator Spotlight
    • Leaders in the Field
    • Agri-Tech Archives
  • Community
    • Research Digest
    • Opportunity Zone
    • Young Innovators’ Forum
    • Funding Latest
  • Members
    • Directory
    • Become an Agri-TechE Member
    • Member Testimonials
    • Increasing your profile
    • Agri-TechE Member Drop-In
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Agri-TechE
    • Stakeholder Group
    • Introductions to the agri-tech cluster
    • International
    • Agri-Tech Briefings
      • Controlled Environment Agriculture
      • Gene editing consultation – what does it mean for agri-tech?
      • Controlling light in farming
      • What is ELMs? Agri-Tech to support Environmental Land Management
    • Agri-TechE Newsletters
      • Sign up to the newsletter
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Agri-TechE activities, conferences and missions for 2022
    • REAP Conference 2022
    • Agri-Tech Week
    • Our Publications
  • Articles
    • Agri-tech News
    • Member News
    • Monthly Musings
    • Innovator Spotlight
    • Leaders in the Field
    • Agri-Tech Archives
  • Community
    • Research Digest
    • Opportunity Zone
    • Young Innovators’ Forum
    • Funding Latest
  • Members
    • Directory
    • Become an Agri-TechE Member
    • Member Testimonials
    • Increasing your profile
    • Agri-TechE Member Drop-In
  • Contact Us

Search

More results…

Generic filters
Exact matches only

  • Member News
  • bovine TB, livestock, PBD Biotech

Top innovation award for Actiphage, rapid tuberculosis test

  • February 16, 2021
  • 11:36 am

Actiphage®, a rapid, accurate test for tuberculosis that detects the presence of the live mycobacteria in a sample of blood or milk, has been awarded the Innovation Award 2021 by Veterinary Record, the official journal of the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

Tuberculosis (TB), Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) and Johne’s Disease continue to be devastating diseases across the globe, and there are currently few reliable diagnostic tests available. Actiphage is a simple test that can detect the diseases in livestock, humans and companion pets as well as wildlife and exotic animals.

Actiphage is developed by PBD Biotech; CEO Mark Hammond says: “Vets know first-hand the devastation caused by bTB, so this award by the BVA provides a powerful endorsement of Actiphage’s innovation. By directly detecting mycobacteria at an early stage, Actiphage provides vets with a new tool for managing and eradicating bTB and Johne’s Disease.”

The other finalists for the Vet Record Innovation Award 2021 were the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid, presented by Sarah Wolfensohn of University of Surrey, and U-treat, presented by Rachel Kirkby of Test & Trace. Both showed innovative new ways to support improved diagnosis of other animal diseases.

Mark Hammond, CEO of PBD Biotech
Mark Hammond, CEO of PBD Biotech

The support of vets is invaluable to PBD Biotech as the company is planning more on-farm trials of Actiphage in the near future.

Actiphage was named as a promising test in the review of UK bovine TB strategy conducted by Professor Sir Charles Godfray. It has also been approved by the APHA for exceptional private use in areas of chronic bTB infection.

Mark continues: “Although 2020 was a challenging year for almost everyone, we have been working closely with vets and farmers to further develop the test, and in parallel have been fund-raising. Our goal is to provide the validation data necessary for Actiphage to achieve international certification by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).”

As Actiphage can distinguish between live and dead mycobacteria and also differentiate between wild strains and vaccine strains, it would be very effective to develop as a DIVA test – for Distinguishing Infected from Vaccinated Animals – a pre-requirement before a successful vaccination strategy can be introduced.

Actiphage has been shown to detect TB in livestock, domestic animals, wildlife and exotic species, so is of interest across the veterinary profession.

It also provides an accurate and non-invasive blood test for human TB and work is progressing to develop a clinically proven test in human TB.

Share

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Related Posts
  • Heartbreak & Hope in the fight against bovine TB
  • PBD Biotech secures £2.3m funding for OIE validation of its rapid, accurate bovine TB test
  • As bovine TB reaches record levels in Wales permission is given for first trial of PBD Biotech’s Actiphage® blood test
  • Actiphage test wins UK Royal Dairy Innovation Award 2019
  • Is there Johne’s Disease in the herd? New rapid testing service provides yes/no answer
Archives

Agri-TechE on Twitter

Tweets by AgriTechE 

MORE INFORMATION

  • News archive
  • Privacy
  • Events
  • Newsletter sign-up
  • View latest newsletter
Menu
  • News archive
  • Privacy
  • Events
  • Newsletter sign-up
  • View latest newsletter
Twitter Facebook Youtube Linkedin Instagram

© Agri-TechE 2022

Site design by Out of House