**4.3.4 Detection of antibodies**

Serology is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to survey for pathogens that should not be present in the boar stud. The main disadvantage of serology is the time period between pathogen exposure and detectable levels of antibodies in a boar which may range from a few days to weeks during which time the boar is not identified as being positive and may shed the virus via semen.
