Enhance the preparedness and capacity of the national animal health laboratory network (nahln), the american association of veterinary laboratory diagnosticians (aavld, national poultry improvement…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $399,834 cooperative agreement to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on February 2, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to enhance preparedness and surge-testing capacity for Influenza A Virus detection across the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, National Poultry Improvement Plan participating laboratories, and other stakeholder laboratories.

The recipient will validate real-time RT-PCR assays with reduced reaction volumes and decreased testing cost, evaluate multiple enzyme and buffer kit chemistries to expand laboratory resilience and flexibility, implement robotic dispensing automation to reduce protocol time and cost, and deliver in-person training and technology transfer to stakeholder laboratories through protocol dissemination and outreach. The project will produce verified low-volume RRT-PCR assays, protocols supporting different kits and chemistries with reduced reaction time, automation protocols using high-speed dispensing instruments, and transfer of technology to the veterinary diagnostic community. Performance occurs in Texas with an ultimate completion date of January 31, 2028.

Enhance the preparedness and capacity of the national animal health laboratory network (nahln), the american association of veterinary laboratory diagnosticians (aavld, national poultry improvement plan (npip) participating laboratories and other stakeholder laboratories for surge testing for influenza a virus (IAV) by real-time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR). This will be achieved by validation of assays with reduced cost, expanded kit/chemistry options for increased laboratory resilience, implementation of robotic dispensing devices, and performing training of stakeholder laboratories staff. To achieve the project goals, we propose to: i) evaluate the current nahln- and USDA-approved RRT-PCR assays with decreased RRT-PCR reaction volumes; II) evaluate multiple RRT-PCR enzyme/buffer kits for detection of IAV; III) investigate the use of automation for RRT-PCR detection of IAV; and IV) perform outreach and training on developed and verified protocols. The project will deliver: i) verified low-volume RRT-PCR assays resul ting in decreased cost of testing; II) increased flexibility and versatility of IAV RRT-PCR testing utilizing different kits and chemistries with reduced reaction time and improved robustness; III) reduced cost and overall time of RRT-PCR protocol by verifying AUT omation protocols utilizing high-speed dispensing instruments; and IV) transfer of technology to stakeholder laboratories through in-person training, outreach, and materials/protocols dissemination. This project will address the important arising need of robust, timely, affordable, reliable, scalable, and high-throughput detection of IAV by RRT-PCR. The main beneficiaries from the outcomes of this project are nahln, npip, aavld, other stakeholder laboratories in the veterinary diagnostic community, and the diagnostic virology laboratory of the national veterinary service laboratories. In turn, this will benefit the poultry and dairy COW industries and will positively impact their sustainability. Furthermore, the outcomes of this project will benefit food safety and will facilitate international trade. The verified and validated protocols from the research proposed here are applicable and transferable for use with assays for detection of other high-consequence diseases, for example foot-and-mouth disease, african swine fever, and newcastle disease and the outcomes can positively impact multiple surveillance and monitoring efforts.