Strategic Laboratory Use

How to Use Hypothesis-based Laboratory Testing

Authors

  • Dale Hancock Field Disease Investigation Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6610

Keywords:

hypotheses, Laboratory diagnosis, problem-solving, epidemiologic, herd disease investigation

Abstract

Semantically speaking, "diagnosis" used in reference to microbiological and pathological findings is not what we are after in herd disease investigations. Problem solving in livestock operations requires epidemiologic diagnoses in which key determinants (critical control points) are identified. Laboratory diagnosis can be an important adjunct to problem-solving efforts, but only if used strategically to test hypotheses about key determinants.

Downloads

Published

1995-09-14

Issue

Section

Cow-Calf and Feedlot Sessions