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The BOVIGAM® IFN-γ test constitutes an additional ante-mortem test to identify cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis. We will explain why we think that at present its most advantageous use will be as an ancillary test to the tuberculin skin test with a view to maximising the numbers of infected animals detected. This paper will also describe the principle of the test and interpretation of the results in the context of the patho-biology of tuberculous infections. Furthermore, the results of studies carried out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this test will be addressed, including the presentation of unpublished results from recent GB trials. In addition, we will discuss the potential use of defined antigens to differentiate M. bovis infected cattle from those vaccinated with future vaccines currently under development.