A New Test for AFB in Honey – What is ‘AFB Ultra’?

 ADVERTORIAL: DNATURE DIAGNOSTICS & RESEARCH

Dnature diagnostic and research’s new advertisements almost says it all – “Tired of the ‘yeah-nah-yeah’ AFB results in your honey? Get a real answer with our new AFB ULTRA test before you blend your honey”. We would like to know more though, so we ask some probing questions to dnature technical director John Mackay to determine how this new test works and why it could save beekeepers and honey traders costly mistakes.

Technical director John Mackay at work in the dnature Diagnostics and Research lab which offers beekeepers a range of diagnostics tests, including the new AFB Ultra.

Apiarist’s Advocate: Let’s keep it simple to start – What is AFB Ultra?

John Mackay: It’s a new DNA diagnostic test to detect the presence of AFB (American foulbrood) spores in honey. It uses a new detection technology and a new DNA target in the bacteria to make it – well – ultra-sensitive. It’s designed to test batches of honey before they go into larger (expensive!) blends.

Why do we need a new AFB test?

Industry has had issues with variable honey results, especially when spores are low. This is to be expected statistically, but we’ve heard issues when batches of honey test negative for spores and yet the final blend has spores detected in it. Or the variability with low spores when a honey sample is tested among different laboratories. AFB Ultra has been developed to prevent this issue due to its much higher sensitivity: honey batches that are sampled appropriately and clear the AFB Ultra test are safe to blend and will then clear the required export AFB testing at your normal laboratory.

So, aren’t you just testing a larger amount of honey?

No, this test uses a single high copy number DNA target in the bacteria, along with a new DNA detection method to further increase the sensitivity. So, we can still use the same high throughput DNA test methods from the small amounts of honey we developed for the industry over 10 years ago.

 More sensitive… but how much more sensitive is it?

Compared to the current qPCR methods (our own AFB duo qPCR test included), AFB Ultra is approximately 20-50 times more sensitive. It means you can ensure your honey results won’t return any nasty surprises upon blending and export testing.

 That’s very sensitive then, so won’t that just mean all honeys now test positive?

No. As with previous testing, our R&D shows most honeys still have undetectable levels. However, honeys that have had ambiguous results or honeys that have gone into larger (AFB detected) blends have been clearly identified with our new AFB Ultra.

Will this replace your original AFB DNA test, aka ‘the Foster Method’ from hives?

No. Our AFB duo qPCR test continues to perform very well for swabs, honeys and other samples – for both ourselves and other laboratories who use this test. For this particular application of testing batches pre-blending and removing surprises when large blends were tested, well, we felt there needed to be a better solution. AFB Ultra is it.

OK, so the Foster Method is still going strong, and I know there is plenty more testing being done in your lab for beekeepers. What are some of the other problems dnature can help solve?

Yes, swabs continue to flow into the lab. The Foster Method is a great way of determining AFB-incidence without even opening beehives, just by our rapid swabbing technique of their entrances. This time of year, it can also be a great tool for swabbing equipment in the shed, especially if beekeepers want assurance when buying that so-called “AFB-free” gear second-hand. Beyond that, if beekeepers suspect varroa resistance to pyrethroid treatments we can test bee/mite samples which is something we’ve been helping Australia with given their new (second!) varroa incursion. We can determine viral loadings within samples taken from hives, helping to determine if nosema or other nasties are present.

The full gambit of our tests offered are detailed on our website.

 There’s plenty going on in the dnature lab. How do beekeepers or honey sellers get their batches AFB Ultra tested, or access any of the other tests?

You can simply request the AFB Ultra as a test from dnature. We only need the normal pottle of honey. Just like if you want Foster Method swabs sent out, or info on any of the ways we can help, get in touch by email to orders@dnature.co.nz or phone 0800 362 887.