It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Cow Test

The title and subject matter for this month’s column were inspired by a symposium presented at PittCon 2001, the analytical laboratory instruments show that was held in New Orleans, La., March 4-9. “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Cow: Detection and Quantification of Prions” was arranged by Brian K. Nunnally of Eli Lilly and Co. and presented some of the latest information on testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

BSE is known as “mad cow disease.” The chronic, degenerative disease affects…