A blood test for IBD can not be considered conclusive as it only affords minimal clues.(Suggestive)Having a necropsy performed on the python will provide the conclusive evidence and or presence of the Inclusion Bodies.
I recently had a rather lengthy conversation with the Dr of Pathology at Texas AM in College Station Tx and his opinion of the "air-borne IBD " theory basically suggest its doesn't hold water.I couldn't get him to clarify due to liability reasons, by his replies he skirted direct answers quite skillfully
yet left enough to fill in a portion of the gray area.
Summary ...... He believes IBD doesn't transfer as current literature suggest via the "air-borne" theory.