Government allots P80 million for ASF test kits

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is earmarking an initial P80 million to mass produce locally made testing kits for the detection of the African swine fever (ASF) as the deadly disease continues to damage the hog industry.

The distribution of ASFv Nanogold Biosensor test kit is part of the current nationwide biosecurity and surveillance program against ASF.

Developed by the Central Luzon State University, the portable, rapid, and sensitive test kit can detect ASF from blood and water samples, surface swabs from farms, delivery trucks, water supplying the farm, swine body fluids or feces, and even raw, processed, or canned pork products.

The mass production of test kits will be done in partnership with other interested private firms and state universities and colleges.

The CLSU and the Bureau of Animal Industry will acquire robotic equipment to efficiently mass produce the test kit.

“With this development, BAI and local government veterinarians can now administer the kit for biosecurity measures, profiling of farms for repopulation, and surveillance and monitoring activities, at a much faster rate right at the so-called ‘ground-zero’ and more economical,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

“We can even have these test kits on standby at port of entries for a quick sampling of the meat products entering the country,” he said.The ASF spread remains a challenge for the DA and this is evident with the consistent increase in prices of pork products.