In NYS a state-wise voluntary program is in place to reduce the Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) prevalence on dairy farms. Farms are advised on the implementation of management that reduces the within and between farm spread of paratuberculosis. Moreover, a farmer can opt for (discounted) testing of the herd and taking specific measures such as culling of the test positive cows. The two standard tests that are used in the program, a kinetics ELISA (KELA) and fecal culture, are done at the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University. In the study we investigated the predictive value of KELA results for moderate or heavy fecal shedding, correcting for possible confounders such as different KELA batches and paratuberculosis prevalence on a farm. Optimal cutoff values for the KELA were distinguished based on the predictive value for fecal shedding. Sensitivity and specificity estimates were calculated for the different thresholds. The study provided additional information on the usefulness of KELA and fecal culture in MAP elimination programs. Moreover, the study resulted in herd-specific cutoffs based on the expected MAP prevalence in the herd. The correlation between KELA results and moderate or heavy fecal shedding was sufficiently large to be able to use KELA in screening programs. However, there were a fair number of moderate and heavy shedders with low KELA results. The KELA appeared not to be a good test for detection of low shedders. For the best possible predictive value of a KELA, the cutoff values should be determined based on the expected prevalence in a herd.