Division 1

Virological tests are essential for the confirmation of classical swine fever.

Virus isolation must be considered as the reference virological test and must be used as confirmatory test when necessary. Its use is particularly recommended in case positive FAT, ELISA or PCR results are not associated with the detection of clinical signs or lesions of disease and in any other doubtful case.

However, a primary outbreak of classical swine fever can be confirmed if clinical signs or lesions of disease have been detected in the pigs in question and at least two antigen or genome detection tests have given a positive result.

A secondary outbreak of classical swine fever can be confirmed if, in addition to the epidemiological link to a confirmed outbreak or case, clinical signs or lesions of disease have been detected in the pigs in question and an antigen or genome detection tests has given a positive result.

A primary case of classical swine fever in feral pigs can be confirmed after virus isolation or if at least two antigen or genome detection tests have given a positive result. Further cases of classical swine fever in feral pigs for which an epidemiologial link with previously confirmed cases have been found can be confirmed if an antigen or genome detection test has given a positive result.