When I did the DASH course, we were specifically told not to administer antibiotics. Only bee inspectors are allowed to do this.
We were given a number of field test kits for diagnosis of afb/efb and envelopes to send infected samples in eppendorf tubes but this was just a backup. The field test kits are at least. if not more accurate, than the lab test so this is effectively a diagnosis. DASH allows you to destroy afb affected colonies (which you would do anyway) and APHA would take the sample as confirmation as though a bee inspector had done it.
If anyone else has a different view, please feel free to correct me.
I think it depends on the circumstances. In the Scottish outbreak we were trained to administer it ourselves and given a temporary certificate to do so. We had real issues with the EFB field kits during the outbreak and HAD to send in samples if we wanted official confirmation. Except in the core of the fight in 2009 when there were so many you just had to act we find that beekeepers up here are being very good about sending in their Eppendorffs and reporting. Its important for us, as if there is not reporting they might think the issue has gone away and we might lose a fair slice of the good relationship and support built up since 2009. Not quite sure the English/Welsh position, but during the outbreak here the 'by a bee inspector' would seem to have been interpreted as 'under the supervision of' and that did NOT mean hiveside supervision.
to Pargyle.....you can confirm that treatment of EFB by oxytetracyline in the formulation Terramycin is OK in the UK by checking the foulbroods section of Beebase. There are loads of other documents supporting that position even lots of results of the treatment being tested. Some of it takes a bit of finding though.
I have heard many times before from 'natural beekeepers' that it is not allowed, but that is most likely a crossover between the rules and wishful thinking. It is NOT allowed in circumstances where there is no declaration of disease and MUST be officially sanctioned (and supplied). However there are very few situations where it is necessary or advisable.
Nowadays we just diagnose in the field (by eye), take an Eppendorf and send it to SASA with appropriate notes to tie sample to specific colony, and that day...even before confirmation, remove the colony to the hospital site (known to the inspectorate and thus annotated on beebase) or for destruction by fire at home base, then after the deed is done notify the inspectorate of the fate of the colony. It works fine. Most get destroyed and indeed that is now our policy for all cases due to recurrence rates in shook swarmed colonies (over 18months that is, most are fine for months afterwards.)
From many hundreds of cases now in my own and my friends hives there is really strong correlation with bee type, so there are bees that a more resistant than others, and some just get it again and again.
