Comparison of plasma progesterone, transrectal ultrasound and pregnancy specific proteins (PSPB) used for pregnancy diagnosis in reindeer. Acta vet. scand. 1999,40,151-162. -The study aimed to compare plasma progesterone concentrations, rectal ultrasonography and plasma concentrations ofpregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) used for pregnancy diagnosis in reindeer. A total of I 595 blood plasma samples were collected between 1991 and 1996 from 3 semidomestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)

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... erds on the Norwegian mainland (Magerey, Sorey, Filefjell) and from 92 wild Svalbard reindeer tRangifer tarandus platyrhynchus). Samples were collected between January and late April. Plasma levels of progest erone and PSPB were measured and used as indicators of pregnancy. In addition, animals from the Filefjell herd and the Svalbard reinde er were investigated using transrectal ultrasound. The results showed that plasma progesterone lower than 7 nmol r ' rarely occurs in females diagnosed pregnant either by ultrasound or by observin g a calf at foot 7 months afte r blood sampling. A very good agreement was found between plasma progesterone and PSPB when used for pregnancy diagnosis. On the Norwegian mainland, but not to the same extent on Svalbard, a high proportion of females with a high progesterone concentration was diagnosed not pregnant by ultrasound. This probably reflects a high rate of false negative diagn oses by the ultra sound method rather than false positives in the progesterone analysi s. diagnostic tests; reproduction; reproductive endocrinology; sensitivity; specificity.