A game-changer for PRRSV vaccine monitoring: Introducing the virotype PRRSV EU Vax RT-PCR Kit

19 November 2025

3 minute read

By: INDICAL BIOSCIENCE

Europe

In the fight against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in swine herds, precision matters. With the dominance of PRRSV-1 (EU genotype) across Europe, and increasing presence in other regions, vaccination programs have become standard practice in the control of this virus. Yet the challenge remains: how do you monitor vaccination success and distinguish vaccinated animals from truly infected ones? 

The new virotype PRRSV EU Vax RT-PCR Kit from INDICAL BIOSCIENCE is the first assay of its kind to detect and differentiate all major live-attenuated PRRSV-1 vaccines in a single run. Here’s why this matters for veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories and swine producers and how it can deliver timely, actionable data to support herd health decision-making.

Why monitoring vaccination status matters

PRRSV is one of the most economically damaging diseases in pig production, causing major reproductive losses in sows and severe respiratory issues in young pigs. With PRRSV-1 prevalent throughout Europe, strategic vaccination is now common practice. Still, successful control hinges on determining whether vaccination is truly working.

When PRRSV RNA is detected, veterinarians need to know whether animals are shedding wild-type virus, indicating infection or simply the vaccine strain. Without this clarity, it’s impossible to accurately assess herd status or react quickly to emerging risks.

What does the virotype PRRSV EU Vax RT-PCR Kit bring to the table?

Traditional approaches, such as sequencing for vaccine-versus-wild-type differentiation, are expensive, time-consuming, and often lack sensitivity, particularly in weak positive samples. This is where the virotype PRRSV EU Vax RT-PCR Kit steps in with a practical, rapid alternative.

Key features of the kit: what sets it apart

• Comprehensive vaccine coverage in one run: Designed to simultaneously detect and differentiate all major live-attenuated PRRSV-1 (EU) vaccines currently used in Europe, a first in the market.
• Rapid turnaround: Results obtained in just 67 minutes* from RT-PCR run.
• High sensitivity: Detection down to 5 copies per sample, giving high confidence even in low-viral-load samples.
• Built-in process control: An exogenous internal control is included to monitor amplification in each run.
• Flexible sample types: Validated for serum, plasma, saliva, tissue and processing fluids, enabling broad use in veterinary diagnostic labs. 

*Runtime may vary depending on PCR cycler and settings used.

Benefits for herd health management

From the perspective of herd health and diagnostic operations, this assay delivers several tangible benefits:

1. Efficient DIVA capability: When used in combination with the virotype PRRSV 2.0 RT-PCR Kit (which detects both PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 genotypes) the kit supports DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) strategies by enabling differentiation between vaccine strains and wild-type virus.
2. Faster decision-making: With a runtime of just over one hour and high sensitivity, diagnostic labs can deliver faster turnaround. For producers, that means quicker responses to potential herd infection, vaccination failure or management gaps.
3. Cost-effective workflow: Reducing the dependence on sequencing (which may be costly and less reliable for low-viral load samples) means labs can allocate resources more efficiently. Differentiation in a single run saves both time and materials.
4. Strengthened confidence in vaccination programs: Being able to confirm the presence of vaccine strain RNA provides both producers and veterinarians with objective data, supporting more confident decisions on whether to adjust vaccination schedules, implement biosecurity revisions or pursue further diagnostics.
5. Supports traceability and biosecurity: In increasingly stringent regulatory and market environments, having a validated assay that demonstrates vaccine uptake and differentiation supports traceability, auditing and risk management in the pork value chain.

Takeaway

For the swine industry, where PRRS remains a persistent and costly threat, innovation in diagnostics is essential. The virotype PRRSV EU Vax RT-PCR Kit brings a new level of precision, enabling laboratories and producers to more confidently monitor vaccine performance, distinguish vaccine from infection, and make timely decisions that protect herd health and productivity.

By integrating rapid, high-sensitivity differentiation of PRRSV-1 (EU) vaccine strains into routine workflows, the kit supports improved surveillance, better vaccination strategies, and ultimately, stronger herd resilience. 

Learn more at Indical Bioscience