American Foulbrood (AFB) – Foster Method™

At dnature, we developed the innovative Foster Method™—a method used for testing for AFB and making sampling easier for beekeepers. This method is the first of its kind in the world for detecting clinical levels of this pathogen and ensures that Paenibacillus larvae (the bacteria that causes AFB) can be detected even before symptoms become visible. It does not replace visual inspection.

After six years of working closely with beekeepers, and a rigorous sensitivity‑testing process, this method was launched in 2022, and in February 2024 it was published in the Journal of Apicultural Research.

Since publication, the use of the method has been extended to composite testing and hiveware. Composite testing allows up to 12 hives to be swabbed in one highly sensitive test, which can then be broken down to individual hives if a positive result occurs. This means large‑scale testing can be carried out more economically. Second‑hand boxes and frames can also be swabbed to provide confidence that AFB is not unintentionally introduced into a beekeeping operation.

Read more about the Foster Method™ here, and learn about the test in this video.

Click here to order your sampling test kits

AFB ULTRA uses advanced detection technology and a new DNA target making it ultra sensitive.  It is designed to test batches of honey before they are blended into larger, more valuable blends.

This test was developed based on industry feedback that told us beekeepers were experiencing variability in honey test results, especially when spore counts were low. Learn more here …