4. WHOLE FLOCK TEST (Appendix 1)
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a.)
 Initial Qualifying Test:
i.
All sheep 180 days of age or greater (calculated from birth date) within the flock must be sampled as described in Section 3.
ii.
 All sheep less than 180 days within the enrolled flock, must be identified and recorded as described in Section 3.
iii.
 No pre-screening of animals is permitted prior to submission of samples. Pre-screening means first submitting samples for non-official testing, removing the positive samples and submitting the rest for official testing.
b.)
 Results from Initial Qualifying Test:
i.
Once results have been recorded and positive sheep and their offspring < 180 days of age have been removed, the flock status is "Enrolled".
(1)
 If the Initial Qualifying test is negative, the status can be designated as "Enrolled - negative flock test".
(2)
 If the flock test is negative go to Section 4-f Qualifying Test for "B" Status.
c.)
 If the flock test is not negative then, (Appendix 3)
i.
 All sheep with a "positive" test must be removed as well as their lambs < 180 days of age within 30 days of the test date.
ii.
 All sheep with a "suspect" test may be immediately removed.
(1)
 If they are not they must be held in isolation and must be removed or be retested within 30 days of the test date.
(2)
 If "suspect" or "positive" results are obtained on the retest, the sheep must be removed from the flock within 30 days of the retest date.
iii.
All sheep with a "non-specific" test result
(1)
 must be held in isolation and
(2)
 must be removed or be retested within 30 days of the test date.
(3)
 If "positive" or "suspect" on the retest they must be removed within 30 days of the retest date.
iv.
As of the date of the initial qualifying test, all biosecurity requirements must be followed.
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d.)
Follow-up Qualifying Test after a positive whole flock test.
i.
 Must be scheduled between 120 and 240 days after the date of the initial qualifying test date.
ii.
 If this test is negative, then go to Section 4-f Qualifying Test for "B" Status.
iii.
 If one or more samples are positive, then go to back to Section 4-c and follow the protocol
e.)
 Qualifying Test for "B" status - Whole Flock Test
i.
 To achieve "B" status, the flock must receive two consecutive negative whole flock tests 120 to 240 days apart.
ii.
 All sheep >= 180 days of age must be tested within 7 days.
iii.
 If the flock Qualifying Test for "B" status is negative, then go to Section 4-f.
iv.
 If the flock qualifying test for "B" status is not negative, then go to Section 4-c and follow the protocol.
v.
 All biosecurity requirements must be followed.
f.)
 Qualifying Test for "A" status - Random Sample Test
i.
 To achieve "A" status, the flock must receive
(1) 2 consecutive negative whole flock tests 120 to 240 days apart and
(2) An additional negative random sample flock test 365 to 395 days later.
ii.
 Between 365 and 395 days after the second consecutive negative flock test, a randomly selected proportion of all sheep 365 days of age must be tested (note change of age).
iii.
 The statistically derived sample of sheep will be randomly selected and be large enough to detect MV infection at a prevalence of 5% or greater with a 95% confidence interval (Appendix 8)
iv.
 Use the protocol as outlined in Section 3-o to select animals for testing.
v.
 ID's of all sheep in the flock as well as all sheep sampled must be recorded.
vi.
 If all sheep tested receive a negative MV test, then the flock will be awarded "A" status.
vii.
 If one sheep receives a positive test, then the producer must follow the protocol as outlined in Section 4-i.
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g.)
 To maintain "A" status, the producer must
i.
 Continue to have a random flock test between 365 and 395 days after the previous negative flock test, following the protocol as outlined in Sections 4-f.
ii.
 Failure to do so without indicating extenuating circumstance in writing to the Program Administrator may result in a loss of status.
h.
 Maintaining "A" status - Closed Flock Designation:
i.
 A closed flock is one that:
(1) never brings in new sheep of unknown or lower status regardless of subsequent testing.
(2) only brings in semen and embryos that meet the biosecurity requirements
(3) only brings in sheep from other "A" status flocks.
ii.
 After achieving "A" status, closed flocks may choose to randomly test the flock at intervals of up to 2 years, specifically up to 790 days.
iii.
 Producers that wish to be designated as a closed flock must ask for such designation in writing from the project administrator.
iv.
 Otherwise the protocol as outlined in 4-f must be followed.
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i.)
 Receiving a positive MV test result after receiving "B" or "A" status:
i.
 If after at least two whole flock negative tests, one or more samples are test positive:
(1)
 If 5% of the samples are positive (e.g. 5 or more of 100 samples)
(a)
 Those positive sheep and their lambs < 180 days of age must be removed within 30 days of the test date
(i) The status will change to "Enrolled" and
(ii) The flock must start at 4-c to reestablish a negative flock status.
(b)
 If the positive sheep are not removed as outlined above, then the flock will have no status in the program.
(c)
It is recommended that the producer schedule a visit with the flock veterinarian to discuss where the program may have broken down (e.g. break in biosecurity). Appendix 6.
(2)
 If the number of sheep receiving this "positive" result represents a flock prevalence of 5% or less(e.g 4 samples of 100), then flock status can be regained through the following method:
(a)
 The test positive sheep and their lambs < 180 days of age are removed within 30 days of the test date.
(b)
 All sheep 180 days of age are retested 120 to 240 days after the positive flock test.
(c)
 This subsequent whole flock test is negative.
(d)
 The previous status is reinstated ("B" or "A")
(e)
 If this subsequent whole flock test is not negative, then the protocol at Section 4-i-(1) must be followed.
ii.
 If after a random sample test, one or more samples are test positive:
(1)
 If more than one sample is positive, then the flock prevalence is >= 5 %,
(a)
 the status will change to "Enrolled" and the flock must start at 4-c to reestablish a negative flock test.
(b)
 It is recommended that the producer schedule a visit with the flock veterinarian to discuss where the program may have broken down (e.g. break in biosecurity). Appendix 6.
(2)
 If only one sample is test positive, then the flock prevalence is estimated at 5%. "A" status can be reestablished by following the protocol at 4-i-(2).
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