Laboratory diagnosis of bovine viral diarrhea virus.

The control and eventual eradication of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) have been defined as objectives to reduce the economic losses due to the presence of this virus in the cattle population. These goals could not be envisioned without the significant achievements in the diagnostic procedures employed to detect the infection in its various manifestations. The tests that are currently available are fully capable of supporting the ACVIM consensus statement for the control and eradication of BVDV. In point of fact diagnostic testing is the essential component of any control program. What is now currently lacking is full implementation of the ACVIM recommendations.