Owners of Reactors must present their animals to the Department Representative when requested, and assist as required, to enable the representative to collect additional samples or to permanently identify the animal.

1. (1) Determination of Reactor from Test(s).

   1. (a) Six Months of Age or Older. Any Equine six months of age or older which has a report of a non-negative EIA test is a Reactor and must be quarantined as provided in Rule 5C-18.007, F.A.C. and must be permanently identified by a Department Representative as provided in subsection 5C-18.006(2), F.A.C.

   2. (b) Retest of Reactors. The owner of an Equine may request a retest of an animal prior to final classification by the Department as a Reactor. Retests must be:

      1. Submitted by an Accredited Veterinarian, to the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory or the USDA, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, at the owner’s expense, and

      2. Completed within 21 calendar days of the date of the initial report of a positive EIA test.

   3. (c) Forfeiture of Retest Option. The owner of the Equine will forfeit the option to retest the Equine if the above requirements are not fulfilled.
   4. (d) Referee Test. In the event that test results of the initial test and the retest are not the same, a blood sample for a referee test will be collected within 10 days by a Department Representative and submitted to Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory or the USDA, National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Final classification of the Equine will be determined by the Director based on the consensus of the results of the three tests.

   5. (e) Equines Under Six Months of Age. Equines under six months of age, which have a report of a non-negative EIA test, will be immediately placed under quarantine. The Equine under six months of age must be retested at six months of age or not less than 60 days after weaning, whichever is longer.

      1. Samples for retest of Equines under six months of age will be collected and submitted by an Accredited Veterinarian at the owner’s expense.

      2. If the retest is positive, the Equine must be permanently identified by a Department Representative as provided in subsection 5C-18.006(2), F.A.C.

      3. If the retest is negative, the Equine will be released from quarantine.

2. (2) Permanent Identification of Reactors. Reactors must be permanently identified by visible alpha-numeric freeze brand.

   1. (a) The alpha-numeric brand must include the letter ‘A’ preceded by the numeral ‘58’ and followed by a four digit number assigned by the Department to indicate the individual identification of each Reactor.
   2. (b) The alpha-numeric brand must be placed on the left side of the neck just below the top line and midway between the head and shoulder.
   3. (c) Each brand marking must be not less than two inches in height.
3. (3) Isolation of Reactors. Permanently identified Reactors must be placed in an Approved Quarantine Premises as provided in subsection 5C-18.007(6), F.A.C., or disposed of as provided in subsection 5C-18.007(3), F.A.C., or be euthanized and buried, rendered, or burned.

Rulemaking Authority 585.002(4), 585.08(2), 585.671 FS. Law Implemented 585.671, 585.16 FS. History–New 10-15-73, Formerly 5C-18.06, Amended 8-15-94, 8-5-21.