Brucella abortus / melitensis RT-PCR
Brucella RT-PCR is a test that looks for the DNA of Brucella abortus or Brucella melitensis, the germs that cause brucellosis, in milk, vaginal discharge, aborted material or blood from cows and buffaloes. It can help confirm brucellosis as a cause of abortion.
- Sample
- Milk, vaginal swab, tissue or blood
- Quantity
- As advised
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- DNA of Brucella, the germ group that includes Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis
- The germ in milk from an animal that may be passing it
- The germ in vaginal discharge, the aborted calf or the afterbirth
- The germ in blood, when your vet chooses a blood sample
Benefits of this test
- Looks for the germ itself, which adds to blood antibody tests.
- Can help confirm brucellosis as the cause of an abortion.
- Can be done on milk, discharge, aborted material or blood.
- Can help when antibody tests give unclear results.
- Gives your vet clearer information to plan next steps for the herd and the family.
When your vet may advise it
- A cow or buffalo aborts, especially in late pregnancy.
- The afterbirth does not come out after calving, or calves are born weak.
- Repeat breeding, or several abortions in the same herd.
- A bull with a swollen testicle, or animals with swollen knee joints.
- A positive or unclear brucellosis antibody test that your vet wants to check.
- Before buying animals, if your vet advises it.
About this test
Brucellosis is a bacterial infection of cows and buffaloes caused mainly by Brucella abortus. Brucella melitensis is mainly a germ of goats and sheep, but it can also infect cows and buffaloes that live close to them. The main sign is abortion in late pregnancy. Other signs include the afterbirth not coming out, weak calves, repeat breeding and less milk. Bulls may have swollen testicles, and some animals get swollen knee joints. Many infected animals look healthy, and a cow may abort only once and then calve normally while still carrying the germ.
This test uses PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which copies a germ's genetic material, called DNA, many times so that even small amounts can be found. It looks for Brucella DNA in milk, vaginal discharge, the aborted calf, the afterbirth or blood. Aborted material and birth fluids usually hold large amounts of the germ. Blood antibody tests, such as the Rose Bengal test or an ELISA, show whether the animal's body has reacted to the germ. PCR adds to them by looking for the germ itself, which can help when antibody results are unclear.
The germ is not always present in milk or discharge, so a negative PCR does not always rule brucellosis out. A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the animal's history, including any brucellosis vaccination, and other tests. Brucellosis can pass to people through raw milk and contact with aborted material or birth fluids, so wear gloves when handling these, wash your hands well and see a doctor if you get a fever or joint pain. Keep aborted material covered and away from other animals until your vet arrives.
How to prepare
Your vet usually takes the sample, and anyone handling aborted material, discharge or milk should wear gloves, use a clean sealed container and wash hands afterwards. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.
Reading the result
A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the animal's history, vaccination record, signs and other brucellosis tests. A positive result means Brucella DNA was found and calls for prompt advice from your vet. A negative result does not always rule brucellosis out, because the germ is not always present in milk or discharge.
Questions about Brucella abortus / melitensis RT-PCR
What causes abortion in cows and buffaloes, and can this test help?
Can brucellosis spread from cows and buffaloes to people?
Is Brucella PCR the same as the Rose Bengal (RBPT) test?
Which sample is most useful for the Brucella PCR test?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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Brucella abortus / melitensis RT-PCR: Bhopal and the big cities of Madhya Pradesh
Free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. From the other cities, send the sample by courier, bus parcel or through your local veterinarian, and the report comes to you online.
Free collection in these Bhopal areas
Read more
Brucellosis in Herds: Testing, Safety and What to Tell the Vet
Brucellosis is a herd disease that causes abortion in cows and buffaloes and can pass to people through birth fluids and raw milk. Blood antibody tests, a milk ring test and RT-PCR help a vet find it, and gloves and washing protect the people handling the animals.
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Abortion in Cattle and Buffalo: Which Samples and Tests
Abortion in a cow or buffalo has many possible causes, and in many cases none is found. Samples from the mother and from the aborted calf, taken by a vet, can be tested for infections such as brucellosis, leptospirosis and neosporosis. Handle all of them with gloves.
18 Oct 2026