Approved Tests. Approved tests for Trichomoniasis testing within the State of Texas shall include the culture or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing of samples collected by certified veterinarians following approved collection, handling and shipping protocols, then tested in approved laboratories.
  (1) Official Culture Tests. An official test is one in which the sample, collected in an InPouch, is received in the official laboratory, in good condition, within 48 hours of collection or is incubated in an InPouch by the collecting veterinarian for 48 hours after collection, and such sample is submitted to be tested according to the "Official Protocol for Culture of Trichomoniasis." Samples in transit for more than 48 hours will not be accepted for official culture testing. During transportation, the organisms should be protected from exposure to daylight and extremes of temperature, which should remain above 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) and below 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
  (2) Official Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests. PCR is accepted as an official test or an official confirmatory test when completed by a qualified laboratory, approved by the Executive Director, and meets the following requirements:
    (A) A Trichomoniasis sample submitted in an InPouch must be received in the official laboratory, in good condition, within 48 hours of collection or incubated by the collecting veterinarian for 48 hours after collection and submitted to arrive at the laboratory within 96 hours of collection. Trichomoniasis samples pooled at the laboratory may qualify as official tests at a ratio of up to five individually collected samples pooled for one test. Veterinary practitioners may not submit pooled samples for an official test.
    (B) A Trichomoniasis sample submitted in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or sterile saline must be received in the official laboratory, in good condition, within 120 hours of collection. Trichomoniasis samples pooled at the laboratory may qualify as official tests at a ratio of up to five individually collected samples pooled for one test. Veterinary practitioners may not submit pooled samples for an official test.
  (3) Other Official Tests. Other tests for Trichomoniasis may be approved by the Commission, as official tests, after the tests have been proven effective by research, have been evaluated sufficiently to determine efficacy, and a protocol for use of the test has been established.

Source Note: The provisions of this §38.6 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 1977; amended to be effective August 14, 2011, 36 TexReg 5090; amended to be effective February 5, 2013, 38 TexReg 494; amended to be effective January 2, 2017, 41 TexReg 10554; amended to be effective September 12, 2017, 42 TexReg 4613; amended to be effective October 6, 2019, 44 TexReg 5611; amended to be effective December 27, 2022, 47 TexReg 8525