This project will help maintain and improve the capabilities of the university of minnesota veterinary diagnostic laboratory to respond to a food animal infectious disease

This $242,709 cooperative agreement from the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture will help the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory maintain and improve capabilities to respond to food animal infectious diseases under the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative (FADI) program. Specifically, the laboratory will maintain a strong quality assurance program, ensure testing capacity for PCR diagnostic tests to support the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, implement electronic messaging of test results, and investigate unusual cases that could indicate an emerging disease. The funding will allow the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to fulfill responsibilities as a Level 1 laboratory within the National Animal Health Laboratory Network by delivering diagnostic testing, quality assurance, and emerging disease surveillance services over the one-year period of performance in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The project will target four key areas. The first objective will be to maintain a strong laboratory quality assurance program. The second objective will focus on ensuring the appropriate testing capacity to respond to the needs of the nahln, specifically on PCR diagnostic tests. The third objective will be to ensure that the laboratory has the ability to electronically message test results. Finally, the fourth objective will focus on investigating unusual cases that could be caused by an emerging infectious disease. Overall, this project will help the university of minnesota veterinary diagnostic laboratory fulfill the responsibilities of a level 1 nahln laboratory.