The agricultural sector has been under pressure regarding the excessive use of antibiotics. In the dairy sector, selective dry cow therapy and selective treatment of non -severe clinical mastitis therefore contribute to the necessary reduction in and more responsible use of antibiotics. Rapid testing of milk samples for bacteriological culture, that - with proper training, quality control and a small investment - can be used quickly and easily at veterinary practices and dairy farms, is a useful tool in this respect as it can serve as a basis for selective dry cow treatment and selective treatment of non -severe clinical mastitis. Different types of rapid tests are available, each with its specific traits and test characteristics. Rapid tests are available as specific agars, PetrifilmsTM, wells, microchips and even as PCR tests. Some of them have an inherent antibiogram and/or fully automatic reading through specific software. Simple tests classify the sample growth as contaminated, no growth, growth of gram -positive or growth of gram -negative bacteria. These tests are sufficient to decide whether or not a cow should be treated with antibiotics when suffering from non -severe clinical mastitis or at dry -off. Other more sophisticated tests allow for differentiation on genus or even species level, facilitating different decisions regarding treatment and udder health management. Every interested user has to determine which rapid test best suits his/her needs.