What is the expected response rate for the caudal fold test?

The expected response rate for the caudal fold test is typically around 1-2%. This test is primarily used in veterinary medicine, particularly for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle. The low response rate indicates the limited number of positive reactions in a given population, reflecting the sensitivity of the test and the prevalence of the disease being tested for.

A higher expected response rate would suggest a more widespread occurrence of the disease or a more sensitive test, which is not the case with the caudal fold test. Understanding the context of this response rate is essential for practitioners in interpreting the results accurately and determining the health status of the animals being tested. In practice, this means that even with a negative result, there may still be animals that are infected, necessitating further testing or screening methods for comprehensive disease surveillance.