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Abstract
The automated complement fixation test is the definitive test in New Zealand's Brucellosis Eradication Scheme. All automated complement fixation testing is carried out at the Central Brucellosis Laboratory, which receives sera from a network of 18 District Processing Centres.
The Central Brucellosis Laboratory is a processing facility backed by laboratories concerned with reagent preparation, quality control, and problem-herd investigation and development.
The complement fixation test is carried out using the continuous flow analysis principle of the Auto-Analyzer and is a fully automated, but rigid, system. If a titre is required for a serum sample, a semi-automated microtitre apparatus is used.
Under practical working conditions, each Auto-Analyzer is capable of a sustained rate of 65 samples/hour. Thus with 30 Auto-Analyzers “on-line”, the Central Brucellosis Laboratory can maintain a rate of 15 000 tests/day.
In New Zealand the maximum processing rate is likely to be approached or exceeded in November, March and April. When an overload develops, the brucellosis card test is applied more widely in the District Processing Centres, so reducing the number of sera submitted without prior screening.