A County Roscommon laboratory is among four private facilities designated to carry out testing for bluetongue as authorities respond to the first confirmed Irish case of the disease this year.
Farmlab Diagnostics, based in Elphin, is one of four private laboratories designated for bluetongue testing.
The other facilities are located in Bandon, Co. Cork; Naas, Co. Kildare; and Killarney, Co. Kerry.
The Department of Agriculture has said it is satisfied that sufficient testing capacity is available.
Around 11,000 animals have been sampled and tested for antibodies to bluetongue virus, while almost 4,000 animals have undergone PCR testing.
Official PCR samples are tested at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory at Backweston, while antibody testing is carried out at the Cork blood testing laboratory.
Results are generally returned within a week, although the Department has said testing issues can result in longer turnaround times.
The development follows confirmation last Friday of Ireland’s first bluetongue case of 2026 in County Wexford. The case involved an unvaccinated 16-month-old heifer.
Bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease affecting ruminants including cattle and sheep.
The Department is encouraging farmers to vaccinate their animals and says vaccination remains the most effective measure against the disease.
Where a veterinary practitioner suspects bluetongue, the relevant Regional Veterinary Office should be contacted so the case can be investigated.
Farmlab Diagnostics in Elphin currently offers a bluetongue virus antibody ELISA test for cattle and sheep.
