Worm IgA Test

Ovine worm resistance testing

Worm IgA testing for breeding programmes

Submit your sample for antibody response (IgA) testing, supporting worm resistance selection in UK and Netherlands breeding programmes.

Submit a sample Check eligibility

In collaboration with

IgA antibody testing

Blood serum or saliva sample, depending on your testing programme.

UK and NL submissions

Accepting samples from both the UK breed society testing and the Netherlands programme.

£7.50 per test (excl. VAT)

You'll be invoiced after your samples are submitted. No payment is required up front.

Before you submit

Eligibility criteria

Samples that do not meet the criteria below may not produce a usable result. Please check each point before sampling.

Lambs must have been weaned for at least 4 weeks before sampling.
Lambs should ideally not have been treated with any wormer in the 4 weeks prior to sampling, and should have been on dirty (naturally contaminated) pasture throughout that period. A minimum of 2 weeks since worming, with the same dirty-pasture exposure, is also acceptable.
Animals should not currently be on a long-acting or persistent wormer product.
A consistent grazing history for the group is required, recorded in the form below.

How to submit

Check eligibility

Confirm the flock or group meets the criteria above before taking samples.

Complete the online form

Record sender, animal and history details below. One row is needed per animal.

Package and label

Package your sample as advised and label each tube with the matching animal identifier.

Ship to the address below

Send using your usual courier or postal route to the address in the shipping section.

Online submission is temporarily unavailable.

To submit samples, please email wormigatest@moredun.ac.uk with: your name, phone number and owner/farm name; invoice address and invoice email; sample type (blood serum or saliva); dates sampled and sent; worming and grazing history; and a list of animals with EID, animal ID, sex and age (a spreadsheet is fine).

Please include a printed copy of your email inside the parcel with your samples.

Packaging and shipping

Packaging requirements

Leak-proof primary container per sample
Leak-proof secondary packaging
Individually wrap or separate multiple tubes to prevent contact
Absorbent material between primary and secondary packaging
Rigid outer packaging
Clearly label each tube with the matching animal ID

Shipping address

FAO Worm IgA Testing Team, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan Penicuik EH26 0PZ

Questions about this test? Contact the processing team directly: wormigatest@moredun.ac.uk

Frequently asked questions

Who processes this test?

This test is processed by a dedicated team at Moredun, in collaboration with SIGNET and the Netherlands worm resistance programme.

What sample type is required, and why?

Most UK submissions use a blood serum sample. Saliva samples are used for Netherlands programme submissions, since saliva sampling is easier and less invasive to collect and does not require a vet, though blood serum IgA tends to be more repeatable. You'll select which sample type applies on the form below. Please contact the team if you are unsure which one applies to you.

What happens if my flock does not meet the eligibility criteria?

Samples taken outside the eligibility criteria may not produce a usable result. Please contact the team before sampling if you are unsure whether your flock qualifies.

Can I submit samples from outside the UK?

Yes, this test accepts submissions from the Netherlands worm resistance programme as well as UK breed society testing. Please check your own country's import and shipping requirements for biological samples before sending.