Bulletin of the IDF N° 427/2008: Towards A Reference System For Somatic Cell Counting In Milk

Publication description

Somatic cell count is a main indicator of udder health in lactating animals. The direct microscopic method (DMSCC) is the reference method, and offically recognized as such for the calibration of automated somatic cell counting equipment. The first paper, the interlaboratory collaborative study, has established the precision (repeatability, r, and reproducibility, R) of the reference method. The values of r and R are independent of the level of somatic cell counts.

The second paper describes the architecture of reference systems, the status quo of somatic cell counting (SCC) and the concept for the implementation of a reference system for SCC.

Keywords: analytical strategy, calibration, mastitis, method, reference system, somatic cell, standard, udder