Technical Abstract: The ‘Singleton Protocol” was initiated in 1996 by the Irish Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food to address the shortfall in specificity of the single intradermal comparative cervical test (SICCT) for bTB. Findings from Murray et al., demonstrate that singleton candidates (i.e., from low risk herds meeting test criteria) had a significantly (P < 0.001) lower lesion rate compared with non-candidate single reactors (43.2% versus 61.9%). While the ‘Singleton Protocol’ does not influence reactor retest results (i.e., singleton herds did not differ from non-singleton reactor herds), the study reaffirms (Good and Duignan, 2011) the low rate of herd breakdowns (i.e, ~6 - 8%) upon retest of singleton reactor herds as previously demonstrated by Olea-Popelka (2004). Additional risk factors identified were size of induration upon SICCT and animal origin in regards to bTB prevalence. The risk was 7.6X greater for animals with a skin test response of > 12 mm (difference in M. bovis and M. avium PPD response) as compared to 1 to 5 mm difference. Herds within districts with bTB incidence rates in the three upper quartiles had > 7X retest breakdown rates as compared to those herds in the lowest quartile. Thus, the qualifying criteria are effective in identifying lower risk herds. Overall, Murray et al demonstrate that early restoration of singleton herds to disease free status does not incur an increased risk for herd retest breakdown. The ‘Singleton Protocol’ provides positive financial implications for cattle producers; thus, this policy provides reward without significant risk.