Which test is used to determine Brucellosis contamination in milk?

• A. BMRT (Brucellosis Milk Ring Test)
• B. ELISA
• C. PCR
• D. Agglutination test

Answer: (A)

Milk Ring Test is the method designed specifically for screening milk samples for Brucella exposure. It works by mixing a milk sample with an oil-emulsion containing Brucella antigen. If Brucella antibodies are present in the milk, immune complexes form and migrate to create a visible ring at the interface between the milk and the oil layer. A positive ring indicates Brucella exposure or contamination in the herd and flags the sample for follow-up testing. This approach is favored because it is quick, inexpensive, and well-suited for screening bulk milk from dairy herds, allowing many samples to be checked at once.

In practice, other tests exist but serve different contexts. ELISA can be used on milk or serum but is more resource-intensive and not as streamlined for bulk milk screening. PCR detects Brucella DNA rather than antibodies and requires more specialized lab setup. Agglutination tests are typically used on serum rather than milk and are not as practical for screening large volumes of milk.