Premium Cattle Health Scheme member resources

Each disease has a set of different sample requirements. Please download our PCHS quick guide for more information. All samples should be sent to St Boswells following Royal Mail guidelines.

PCHS blood samples – please use red top tubes. Samples should be dispatched to us within 48 hours of collection and refrigerated until dispatch
PCHS milk samples – must be used with preservative
PCHS BVD ear tissue samples – please keep tags in a cool dry place (DO NOT FREEZE) and submit in batches every two weeks to prevent sample deterioration.

So that we can continue to offer BVD PCR testing at a competitive rate, from August 26th 2023, SRUC Veterinary Services will no longer be able to accept Datamars tissue tags (Typifix). Any Datamars submissions received after this point will be uplifted by Datamars from SRUC Vet Services and sent on for testing.

We will continue to process Caisley tags. These tags are handled by automated processes that open and process these tags, minimising handling and enabling us to control costs. Caisley operates a 'Pay as you Go' system and the form to submit with the samples can be found here.

You can also buy tags independently and send them to SRUC but please check with us first if you are unsure about the tag type. More information can be found here.

BVD test results from other laboratories

For clients who continue to use another testing lab for BVD tag and test for their own records, we advise that you carry out a check test via PCHS each year (please make sure you blood test five unvaccinated animals between 9-18 months of age in each management group, totalling at least seven animals).

However, we do accept tag test results from other laboratories with current ISO17025 to go towards your Premium Cattle Health Scheme accreditation, subject to an administration fee. For clients who continue to use another testing lab for BVD tag and test you and your vet will need to sign a declaration that all calves have been tested in accordance with the rules of PCHS. If you are in England and Wales, you must also send in the results.