Comments and Suggestions 



As stated elsewhere in this report, the marked progress that has been and 

 is being made in pullorum-disease eradication should be credited in a large 

 measure to the splendid cooperation of the poultrymen. The laboratory is 

 doing its part to reciprocate by rendering the highest quality of service which 

 the present organization and facilities will permit. 



Poultrymen are requested to comment on the quality of service rendered 

 by the blood collectors. Since it is impossible to follow the field work with 

 the same degree of supervision as the laboratory work, we are forced of ne- 

 cessity to ask the poultrymen to report on the type of field service received. 

 Naturally, we expect a difference in personalities among the personnel on our 

 staff of blood collectors. This is likewise true among the poultrymen. Certain 

 personalities may clash, and consequently unfavorable reports may be received 

 from either the poultryman or the blood collector. The laboratory asks that 

 tolerance be exercised, but not at the expense of accuracy or quality of the 

 work. Suggestions and criticisms will be given due consideration. 



Since the great majority of flocks tested each year are non-reacting, occa- 

 sional flocks will reveal doubtful reacting birds which are difficult to classify 

 as being either negative or positive for puUorum infection. In such instances 

 the agglutination test alone does not give sufficient evidence to enable the 

 laboratory to make a definite diagnosis. Experience has shown that these 

 doubtful-reacting birds can be more accurately diagnosed if they are sent to 

 the laboratory for necropsy. After the bird has been killed and examined with 

 no findings of puUorum infection, the laboratory regards such birds as nega- 

 tive, and the flock owner will receive a negative testing report. However, if 

 the owner fails to submit doubtful-reacting birds which have been requested 

 by the laboratory, he cannot expect his flock to be regarded as negative, be- 

 cause occasionally puUorum infection is recovered from doubtful reactors or 

 birds giving a weak reaction. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the 

 doubtful reaction might be due to faulty operation of the testing process. 

 This suggestion can be ruled out if, after the doubtful reactors arrive at the 

 laboratory, they continue to give the same type of reaction observed earlier. 

 The doubtful reactor has been a great annoyance to the laboratory worker as 

 well as to the poultryman. Inasmuch as the cause or causes of the doubtful 

 reactor are not known, and since such reactors may be indistinguishable from 

 pullorum-disease reactors, poultrymen are requested, for their own safety, to 

 treat doubtful-reacting birds as advised by the laboratory. 



Publication of this Document Approved by Commission on Administration and Finance [j 



2500-7-'36. No. 8225. I'l 



