The phage-based test is said to have detected viable mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in 10.3% of the 386 samples of retail purchased pasteurised milk.

PBD Biotech CEO Dr Berwyn Clarke said: “We now have a new research tool at our fingertips that can rapidly detect the presence of MAP in all tissue and fluid at very high sensitivity, providing a real opportunity to improve our understanding of this mycobacteria and its associated diseases.”

Research indicates MAP can withstand pasteurisation