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Thermo Fisher Launches qPCR-based Kit for Rapid Detection of Mastitis Pathogens in Dairy Herds


About 40 percent of clinically abnormal milk samples tested with traditional bacterial culture come back with a “no growth” result, leaving farmers exactly where they started – with a mastitic cow and no diagnosis. To overcome this reoccurring dilemma, Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the Applied Biosystems VetMAX MastiType Multi qPCR Kit. The new diagnostic test quickly identifies the most common mastitis-causing pathogens, enabling dairy farmers and veterinarians to take immediate and informed action.

The new kit is designed to detect 15 mastitis-causing bacteria and an antibiotic resistance gene with just one diagnostic test. It provides reliable results with individual cow samples or bulk milk samples, which can be fresh, frozen or preserved.

The VetMAX MastiType Multi qPCR Kit detects the following: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Serratia marcescens, Corynebacterium bovis, Trueperella pyogenes and/or Peptoniphilus indolicus, Staphylococcal β-lactamase gene (penicillin-resistance gene), Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma spp., yeast and Prototheca spp.


Real-time PCR kits, such as the new VetMAX MastiType Multi Kit, offer laboratory results in two and a half to three hours, enabling same-day results even for Mycoplasma species. Mycoplasma mastitis, which can be difficult to culture, can take up to 10 days with traditional bacterial culturing. The pathogen can spread swiftly, making rapid diagnosis critical for the health, welfare and productivity of the herd.

Laboratories also benefit from VetMAX MastiType Multi Kit’s fast and convenient new workflow using the MagMAX CORE nucleic acid extraction. It uses the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 5 instrumentation which employs cloud-based software solutions.

“Dairy farmers and veterinarians want better, faster diagnostic solutions,” said Martin Guillet, global head and general manager for AgriBusiness at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “VetMAX MastiType Multi qPCR Kit joins the recently launched VetMAX MastiType Micro4 Kit and VetMAX MastiType Myco8 Kit to complete our mastitis veterinary diagnostic portfolio. It offers an additional qPCR solution for mastitis detection to our portfolio that will help veterinarians and farmers take fast, well-informed action toward eliminating mastitis in the dairy herd.”

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