23 Nov UK Farmcare audits

As we enter the third year of the second generation VDP contracts all OVs who were testing for the VDP at the start of September 2021 will be due a field audit by the end of August 2024.  We will be contacting and working with practices and OVs over the coming twelve months to ensure all those TB testers needing an audit are seen by the deadline. 

Hosting audit events on suitable tests/herds, or arranging for multiple TB testers to attend a large test with an auditor present, are all ways we can work with practices to make sure all those who need an audit are seen within the timeframe.  These audits are also important to allow TB testers to revalidate their OCQ panels.  If you are interested in hosting an audit event or arranging for multiple testers to be seen on one site, please just get in touch with our office team in the usual way.

We have recently had several audit failures relating to day two testing, where animals have either not been identified and checked off during the reading or measurements have been incorrectly interpreted because the chart has not been used to determine whether animals are clear, inconclusive reactors or reactors.  This has led to parts of the test having to be repeated and TB testers having to retrain before they can continue testing which causes increased workload for both the farmer and the practice.  Please make sure all parts of the SOP are adhered to on both day one and day two to avoid finding yourself in this situation.