top of page

Site Title

California Mastitis Testing kits that would allow Nepalese farmers to test for both clinical and sub-clinical mastitis in a way that is quick and easy. The kit comes with 4 supplies; a manual full of instructions on how to do the test and read the final reading of the somatic cell count, an 16 ounce bottle of reagent containing bromocresol purple (sodium salt), sodium hydroxide and sodium linear alkylbenzene (Immucell, 2015) which helps to that detects increased somatic cell count, an 8 ounce applicator bottle to dilute the reagent (instructions on diluting the reagent would be on the bottle) and a paddle with 4 quarters which allows the farmer to test the four different teats on the cow all at once (Ormond Veterinary Supply Ltd, 2015). When mixing approximately a teaspoon of milk with a teaspoon of diluted reagent mixed together in the paddle. There are some precautions to take when doing the test though. The reagent is considered an irritant to the eyes, mouth, skin and respiratory (Immucell, 2015). Some ways to prevent exposure to eyes, mouth, skin and respiratory is by always wearing gloves to cover the skin on your hands, wear googles if worried the product will get in contact with the eyes, and if feeling light headed, to make sure to get fresh air and breathe until feeling better again (Immucell, 2015). Once in the paddle, you keep mixing the solution in a circular motion for approximately 20 seconds (Ruegg, 2005). Shown in figure 2, these are some of the outcomes that could occur. The more gel that is formed in the paddle, the more the somatic cell count (Ruegg, 2005). Looking above at table 1, shows how you would rate the amount of somatic cell count in the milk. With these rates farmers can see if the test is positive or negative, and if it is positive, it would show how severe the case of subclinical mastitis is and then later find a treatment for the certain case of subclinical mastitis. This product is easy, fast, reliable and cost effective (Immucell, 2014). It’s easy because anyone can do the test without special recommendations or veterinary assissantance, it’s fast because it only takes a total of 5 minutes to full know the somatic cell count in the milk given. It’s reliable since it shows good testing in most of the test and that the environment does not affect the reaction of the milk and diluted reagent (Immucell, 2014). And finally it’s cost effective because it is a cheaper product that gives many test, (approximately 350 test per kit (Drugs.com, 2015)) (Immucell, 2014).

Califorina Mastitis Testing Kits

Figure 1: Safety Guides if in content with the mastitis reagent (Immucell, 2015)

Table 1: California Mastitis Test scores: correlation of CMT score with somatic cell count (McFadden, 2011)

(Homesteader Suppliers, 2015)
Figure 2: As shown in the figure to the left, the more gel the more mastitis has been found within the milk (UPEI, 2015).
bottom of page