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Updated:7/27/2011

National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

For more information email the Avian Health Program
or call 1-800-606-3056

To view PDF files, download Adobe Reader.

Buff Orpinton Rooster staring into the camera

Photo by Melissa Ferris

What is the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)?
What disease do you test for in NPIP?
What are the Subparts in NPIP Program?
How do you join the NPIP Program?
What does the NPIP consist of?
What are the benefits of becoming a NPIP participant?
NPIP Resources
USDA NPIP Contacts
NPIP Provisions From the Code of Federal Regulations

What is the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)?

The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a national program in collaboration with state and federal departments of agriculture and industry representatives. The main objective of this program is to use new diagnostic technology to effectively improve poultry and poultry products throughout the United States. NPIP provides certification that poultry and poultry products destined for interstate and international shipments are disease free.

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What diseases do you test for in NPIP?

The diseases tested is dependant upon the subpart. Each Subpart tests for different diseases. Some of the diseases tested for in the NPIP program are:

In Washington, the majority of our NPIP flocks are Subpart E participants, so we only test for Pullorum-Typhoid (P-T) and Avian Influenza.

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What are the Subparts in NPIP Program?

The non-commercial Subparts are:

B- Multiplier Egg-Type Chickens
C- Multiplier Meat-Type Chickens
D- Turkeys
E- Waterfowl, Exhibition, Game Birds, and Backyard Flocks
F- Ostrich
G- Primary Egg-Type Chickens (Breeding)
H- Primary Meat-Type Chickens (Breeding)

The commercial Subparts are:

B- Commercial Table-Egg Layers
C- Commercial Meat-Type Chickens
D- Commercial Meat-Type Turkeys
E- Commercial Upland Game Birds, Waterfowl, Raised-For-Release Upland Game Birds and Raised-For-Release Waterfowl

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How do you join the NPIP Program?

If you are interested in joining the NPIP Program, please contact Lyndon Badcoe, the Avian Health Program Veterinarian.

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What does the NPIP Program consist of?

In order to be a NPIP flock, the following must occur:

Annual P-T Testing
AI Testing
Annual Premises Inspection
Annual Records Audit

Annual P-T Testing
For Subpart E, the number of birds tested each year for P-T is dependant on the number birds in your flock. Flocks with 1-999 birds will have 25% of their flock tested (minimum 30 birds). Flocks with 1,000 birds or more will have 10% of the flock tested (maximum 300 birds). Testing Methods:

WSDA performs field test:
- Participants will be responsible for costs associated with the time it takes to test birds for P-T, set-up/clean-up for the testing process, and laboratory fees for any field reactors. It takes approximately 30 minutes for set-up and clean-up, and ~2 minutes for each bird tested.
- P-T testing fees will be incurred at $85.00 an hour and will be billed in half hour increments.

Sending blood samples to the lab:
- A trained person (private practitioner, vet tech, owner, etc.) can collect blood samples and send them to the Washington State University (WSU) Avian Health and Food Safety Lab in Puyallup.
- Participants are responsible for paying laboratory costs. Testing costs approximately $1-$2 dollars a bird, plus a $10 administration fee.

AI testing
30 birds will be AI tested once a year. Participants can participate in the H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean Program. The AI Clean Program consists of 30 birds tested for AI every 90 days. While federal funding is available, WSDA will pay for AI testing.

Annual Premises Inspection
As a participant, your premises will be inspected by a WSDA veterinarian annually. During the annual inspection the WSDA veterinarian will look look at the sanitation of your poultry houses, hatching rooms, egg handling rooms, etc.

Annual Records Audit
As a participant of NPIP, a WSDA veterinarian will conduct an audit of your records for the birds purchased that year. As a participant, you can only purchase birds from NPIP participants. The record audit verifies that you are only purchasing NPIP stock.

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What are the benefits of becoming a NPIP participant?

Some of the benefits of participating in NPIP are:

Less restrictions when exporting birds,
Birds won't need to be P-T tested prior to exhibiting at fairs and shows in Washington, and
Receive correspondence from WSDA during an emergency situation.

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NPIP Resources

NPIP Brochure
[PDF File 216.43 kb]
USDA-Helping You, the Poultry Breeder, Prevent Disease
[PDF File 99.59 kb]

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USDA NPIP Staff

USDA APHIS-VS
1506 Klondike Road
Road, Suite 300
Conyers, GA 30094
Phone:(770) 922-3496

Dr. C Stephen Roney, Director, National Poultry Improvement Plan
Dr. Denise L. Brinson, Veterinary Medical Officer
Penny Kesler, Veterinary Program Specialist
Harold Perks, Veterinary Program Assistant

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NPIP Provisions From the Code of Federal Regulations

145-National Poultry Improvement Plan for Breeding Poultry
146-National Poultry Improvement Plan for Commercial Poultry
147-Auxillary Provisions on National Poultry Improvement Plan

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National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

For more information email the Avian Health Program or call 1-800-606-3056

For more information email the Avian Health Program
or call 1-800-606-3056