The development of the Foster Method for AFB testing
August 3, 2023
2009 – dnature diagnostics & research ltd is established
2010 – our first company qPCR project is commissioned by MPI & a subsequent qPCR test kit is developed for Seeka – it’s for the bacteria behind Psa in 🥝
2012 – based on his interest for bee viruses, our technical director, John Mackay, purchases his first beehives and becomes a hobbyist beekeeper 🐝
2015 – dnature tests some bees from the Coromandel and confirms the presence of lotmaria passim in New Zealand for the first time. This work also determines the cause of large losses of bees in the Coromandel – it’s the nosemas. That year dnature also launches a PCR test for American Foulbrood (AFB).
2016 – the apiculture industry begins to use our test for the presence of AFB in honey but while inspecting a varroa-stricken hive for AFB, John wonders if there is another way to sample beehives for the bacteria. He enlists local beekeeper, Barry Foster, as well as other Tairāwhiti beekeepers and beekeepers from Wairarapa, Canterbury & Wellington to assist. 🐝 🍯
2017-2019 – Beekeepers begin swabbing hive entrances & the full base of the beehive to see if one location point is more sensitive than another. Bees are also provided from identified high risk beehives. Over this two year period a LOT of PCR tests are run at dnature to make sure that this method can detect clinical AFB. This work receives some R&D funding from Trust Tairāwhiti but is mostly funded by dnature. 🧬
2018-2021 dnature contributes to Project Clean Hive, which looked at a range of methods for detecting AFB (and quickly determines the Foster Method is superior)
2020 -2022 – COVID-19 occurs and everyone learns about PCR and swabbing 😊 🤒
2021 – the AFB Foster Method is launched and the preprint of our novel test is released. Shortly after launching research is undertaken to develop a composite test, together with the Project Clean Hive team. This method saves beekeepers money by pooling samples together to test. An identified positive sample is then broken down for individual testing. 📖
2023 – dnature creates a video, featuring Barry Foster, which shows beekeepers how easy it is to use the Foster Method to test for AFB.
2024 – the Foster Method is published as peer-reviewed research in the Journal of Apicultural Research
2025 – the Foster Method is used for beekeeper certainty, for hive checking while loaded with honey supers (ourselves!) and also as part of an action to win compensation from an unlawful beekeeper.
