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The Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL), an accredited laboratory with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, will work through a cooperative agreement with the USDA and its interagencies to build a strong animal diagnostic network to enhance the biosecurity of the food and agricultural industries of the United States. LADDL will participation in the National Animal Health Diagnostic Network (NAHLN) and continue to enhance the capability and capacity of the laboratory for the rapid detection and reporting of foreign diseases to state and federal officials. In order to enhance the Laboratory s diagnostic output to perform both targeted and domestic animal disease surveillance, rapid detection, and rapid response, LADDL will address the following areas. <P>
A. Laboratory-Based Surveillance Programs-to participate in laboratory-based surveillance programs associated with the NAHLN. <P>B. Capacity Testing-to continue to build capabilities for capacity testing by adding equipment, personnel and training. <P>C. Training- to attend National AAVLD/Quality Assurance Workshop, and Emergency Response Symposium, Information Technology Change Control Board Meetings, and to participate in Table Top Exercises and Emergency Response training sessions, and attend High-Throughput Equipment Training. <P>D. Sample Tracking -to upgrade the current Veterinary Laboratory Information System (VLIMS) and add barcode scanning capabilities. <P>E. Proficiency Testing- to participate in Avian Influenza, Exotic Newcastle Disease, Classical Swine Fever, and Food and Mouth Disease proficiency testing programs. To participate in Pseudorabies proficiency testing when appropriate. <P>F. Quality Assurance- to continue developing System and Technical Standard Operating Procedures. <P>G. Secure Computer Network-to continue messaging to the NAHLN repository for secure reporting.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL), an accredited laboratory with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, will work through a cooperative agreement with the USDA and its interagencies to build a strong animal diagnostic network to enhance the biosecurity of the food and agricultural industries of the United States. LADDL will participation in the National Animal Health Diagnostic Network (NAHLN) and continue to enhance the capability and capacity of the laboratory for the rapid detection and reporting of foreign diseases to state and federal officials. In order to enhance the Laboratory s diagnostic output to perform both targeted and domestic animal disease surveillance, rapid detection, and rapid response, LADDL will address the following areas. <P> APPROACH: A. Laboratory-Based Surveillance Programs LADDL will participate in laboratory-based surveillance programs associated with the NAHLN program. Surveillance programs for HPAI in Wild Migratory Birds in the United States implemented by the National Wildlife Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Program, USDA Wildlife Services and surveillance programs for Classical Swine Fever and Pseudorabies through Cooperative Agreements with the USDA are expected to occur this next year. B. Capacity Testing LADDL has existing useable BSL-2 and BSL-3 space of greater than 2000sq ft. Currently, 500 additional BSL-3 space is under construction for completion by the end of 2008. LADDL s equipment list for high-through put rapid detection by RT-PCR is as follows: ABI 7500, ABI 7900 (384 well block) 2nd ABI 7900 (384 and 96 well block), ABI 2720 (x2), MJ PTC-200, Cephid Smartcycler 11, 3 blocks, BioMek Liquid Handling System, Qiagen Biorobot 9604, Ambion Man Stan -96 well (x2), LabLine Shaker# 4625, Qiagen vacuum manifold 24 (x2), KingFisher 96 magnetic particle processor. Avian Influenza PCR capacity testing includes 1056 samples in a 10 hour shift. FMD PCR capacity, 1272 samples/ 10 hr shift. C. Training Meetings and Workshops D. Sample Tracking Sample process efficiency will be increased by incorporating handheld laser bar code scanners. Scan-intensive operations will accelerate throughput in sample tracking and data entry of surveillance sample Handheld Barcode have been purchased. E. Proficiency Testing Currently LADDL has 4 personnel trained and proficiency tested in the Real Time RT-PCR for detection of Avian Influenza Virus and Identification of H5 and H7 subtypes and Exotic Newcastle Disease. Currently LADDL has 3 personnel trained and proficiency tested in the Real-Time RT-PCR for the detection of Classical Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease. LADDL will continue to participate in the proficiency test for AI, END, CSF and FMD and any new proficiency test made available by NVSL/APHIS. F. Secure Computer Network LADDL s current LIMS has a proprietary database, therefore we have resorted to using the export utilities from the LIMS vender such that we can import the data into a Microsoft Access database. LADDL has sent several test messages while testing communication means and scripts using our real data. With this, we have also achieved our October 12, 2007 date for sending messages. The automation of this process is still in progress. LADDL has setup a Rhapsody Server to take the message from either the current LIMS (export copy) or the new VLIMS32 version of our LIMS. If at any point during this process messaging can not be accomplished, LADDL will request assistance from the Change Control Board.