10 Jun Non-Vet TB testers (ATTs)

Since February 2018 several supplier practices to the VDP have been involved in the APHA pilot using TB testers who are not vets, known as ATTs, to carry out some cattle skin tests. The XL Farmcare UK audit team have been carrying out audits on both an announced and unannounced basis, using exactly the same process as for OV audits, to assess the quality of testing and to help inform the results of the pilot. Excellent compliance with the XL Farmcare requirements has been demonstrated by this first cohort of ATTs. While the next steps for this programme are still being considered, we believe that all practices who currently deliver services to the VDP network will be in a position to recruit and train ATTs to help with their testing workload towards the end of 2020. It is worth noting that to be an ‘AVS’, the lead vet nominated to supervise a maximum of two ATTs, an OV must have had a fully compliant audit themselves within the last two years. This is another reason to revisit the XL Farmcare manuals on Farminsights to ensure all requirements are being met consistently for forthcoming audits.