Can I test a group of reptiles kept together?

Where possible, we recommend testing each animal individually, as this provides the most accurate and actionable information.

Group testing can be appropriate for long-established groups of the same species housed together under the same conditions — for example, a stable group of leopard tortoises or leopard geckos. In these situations, group or flock monitoring is considered good practice for both animal health and public health surveillance.

If parasites are detected that may require treatment, group testing cannot determine the parasite burden of each individual animal. In such cases, individual testing may be recommended to guide appropriate management and treatment decisions.