A total of 384 sheep serum samples collected from two organised sheep farms was tested by dot immunobinding assay (DIA) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) for the presence of bluetongue virus (BTV) antibodies. The results of both these assays were compared to find a sensitive, specific, rapid, easily performed and economical test for the diagnosis of bluetongue disease. DIA detected BTV antibodies in 210 samples (54.94%) and I-ELISA detected 157 positive samples (40.88%). Competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) was performed to check the discrepancies in I-ELISA and DIA. On the basis of these tests the overall agreement, relative specificity and sensitivity between ELISA and DIA were 75%, 87.6% and 100%, respectively. DIA was found to be a rapid, sensitive, easily performed and economical test as compared to ELISA.