Texas is changing the way they are handling their Pullorum-Typhoid testing. Instead of providing the testing for flock owners for free, they are training people to be authorized testers. Going forward, if you need to be tested, you will need to locate an authorized tester near you and setup an appointment for them to come and test your flock. Because it will be an expense to the testers, there will now be fees associated with the testing. Flock owners wanting to be NPIP certified will need to find a local tester to get their flock tested before sending the paperwork to the state with the fee for NPIP.
All this happened right when I wanted to have my flock tested so that I can sell eggs and birds out of state. The current state testers were not able to do my flock before their employment with the state ended, so that left me needing to get certified.
I am currently signed up for the class later this month in Comfort Texas. As I looked into the costs with getting my flock tested and myself on the way to being NPIP, I was a little taken aback at the costs I will incur. It is going to take about $300 to get the testing equipment and the antigen. While I will use the equipment for years to come, the antigen only comes in a 1000 dose bottle for about $170, and it appears that the the antigen is only good for about 2 years. That puts me in a place of having to do a lot of testing just to break even or come up with something else. While I want to do some testing, I do not want to have all my free weekend time filled. And I got to thinking that these costs will put others in the same place as I am.
Because of the initial expense and the need to have to test to make the investment worth while, I got to thinking many that get certified will not be doing the testing because of the expense to get started. Texas is a big state and we will need all the testers we can get to take care of the need that will be out there. So here at Windy Whiskers Poultry are going to provide a place to get organized here in the San Antonio area and also provide some options for both those getting certified and needing the testing done.
First thing we have done is create a Facebook group that will discuss the PT testing in our area and be a place to get those needing testing done to reach those certified to test. If you are in our area, please join the group.
Everyone that takes the training and becomes certified will be listed on the the TVDML website. So if you are needing a tester you will need to find people in your area and send emails. Some that have become certified may be testing and others may not. To help people in our area reach those available for testing, I have created a space on our website for testers in the San Antonio and surrounding area. The space will allow them to put their contact and testing information in a place to reach those needing their services. The testers will be able to list just about anything they want.. how far they will travel, are they full or part time, when they have availability for testing and more. I am selling the listing in that area for $6/year. That is .50/month to let others know what services you will provide in our area. I will make changes and keep that area current as to who is doing what as far as testing. It will be a great resource for those looking for testing in their area. Depending on their needs, they should be able to find testers to get them taken care of.
For those that get certified and do not want to test full time and incur the expense to get started, we have another option available. For those that want to test part time, the only thing they will need is to get the testing equipment that runs about $135 and personal protection equipment. For the antigen, we will be selling smaller dose bottles to local buyers. The antigen will be available in 100 and 200 dose bottles. You or your customers can purchase the test quantity needed, and you can then do the testing and handle the paperwork for the state. If listed in our PT Testers section, you can specify your customers will need to get the antigen before setting up their appointments. For a small flock, the purchase of the small bottle of antigen will give two years of testing, and the only expense will be having a tester do the testing.
As you can see, we are trying provide several options and solutions to meet the need of PT testing in the San Antonio area. Feel free to comment here or join our Facebook group so we can make sure everyone that can get the testing done that they need.
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