Tests on suspect animal negative for mad cow: US officials

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (AFP) - Tests on an unidentified cow have determined the animal did not have mad cow disease, the US Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.
"The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, has determined that the inconclusive screening test sample reported on November 18 has tested negative for (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) upon confirmatory testing," the department said in a statement.
The multibillion-dollar US beef industry had eagerly awaited the test after authorities announced Thursday that a field test for the disease had registered positive.
The authorities have not revealed where the suspect animal was discovered.
The only confirmed US mad cow case was found in the northwestern United States on December 23. The cow was from Canada, but some 30 countries banned imports of US beef as a precaution.

11/23/2004 23:08 GMT - AFP