The Foster Method of AFB detection - developed in NZ by dnature.co.nz - 
is described in the latest Journal of Apicultural Research.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2024.2306445

The development is an exemplar of co-operation and competence. 
Congratulations to John Mackay, Barry Foster and all the others who have 
contributed to this project.

There is a nice description of the detection method at:

https://dnature.co.nz/what-is-the-foster-method

The links in that refer to an Otago project where the incorporation of 
this testing was used very effectively.

https://beekeeping.nz/NZBDA/timeline/2021_CleanHive.pdf

One of the more exciting aspects of the method to me is searching for 
NOT AFB, rather than looking for it.  That is, composite testing can 
drop the costs dramatically if you are wanting to say "I'm confident 
that none of these X hives have an significant amounts of AFB spores."

Nick Wallingford
Tauranga, NZ

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