Rapid tests make it possible to confirm certain diseases in the field, without waiting for a laboratory result.

What they exist for

• American foulbrood
• European foulbrood

Laboratory tests exist for viruses and nosema; those are not field tests.

How they work

Suspect material — a dead larva or comb residue — is placed in a supplied fluid and applied to a test strip. The result appears within minutes.

A line at the control mark shows the test is valid; a second line indicates a positive result.

What they add

• Speed: With a notifiable disease, every day counts
• Certainty in doubt: The matchstick test gives an indication, not confirmation
• Distinction between the two foulbroods, which have different consequences

The limits

• A negative result rules nothing out. In an early stage or with a poor sample the test can be negative while the disease is present
• A positive result does not replace reporting. The test is an aid, not an official diagnosis
• Storage temperature and expiry date affect reliability
• The sample determines the result; take material from a clearly affected cell

What to do on a positive result

• Close the hive; move no comb and lend no equipment
• Record it: photographs, date, hive number, test result
• Clean the tools
• Report it to the competent authority
• Do not start antibiotics yourself

Practical position

Keeping a test in stock is sensible for anyone with more than a few colonies. But the test is the second step; the first remains assessing the brood nest with your own eyes.