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The project aims to strengthen Florida's (FL) readiness to respond to animal disease outbreaks and reinforce its ability to safeguard animal and public health by rapid, accurate detection and reporting of disease agents for early diagnosis and prevention. Due to its unique geographic location (e.g. conducive climate for insect vector breeding), tourism trade and increased importation of exotic animal species, FL presents a potential hazard to the nation as point source for domestic and foreign animal diseases, introduced either naturally or intentionally. Therefore, a strong and consistent financial support for its state-funded diagnostic laboratory system is invaluable. <P>
The Kissimmee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (KADDL) proposes to continue to receive infrastructure fund support from the CSREES Cooperative Agreement initiative to maintain its core member category and enhance its testing capacity with the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). <P>
The proposed objectives of this project are the following: <OL> <LI> Continue to provide rapid and accurate detection of high-risk disease pathogens through use of NAHLN-approved molecular diagnostic systems in the BSL3 facility (i.e. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing for avian influenza (AI), exotic newcastle disease (END), chronic wasting disease (CWD), scrapie, classical swine fever (CSF), foot and mouth disease (FMD) and others) and perform testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) when approved. <LI>Provide rapid and accurate screening of endemic pathogens, novel and emerging pathogens (e.g. H1N1 virus) via NAHLN protocols and approvals. <LI>Continue to enhance the laboratory computer network capabilities to ensure connectivity to the NAHLN HL7 messaging system. <LI>Continue to provide competence and capacity for high throughput testing, rapid, accurate testing of samples from other states impacted by a disease outbreak and extend staff support for other laboratories or field emergency operations when requested. <LI>Continue to provide training, updates, proficiency testing among staff and provide expertise for training courses and workshops. <LI>Develop and enhance the laboratory's disease detection system by establishing test protocols for high-risk foreign animal diseases and validating them (e.g. Rift Valley Fever and others) in collaboration with the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (FADDL) and other accredited laboratories. <LI>Participate in the evaluation of diagnostic assays developed by USDA or partner institutions <LI>Coordinate training of qualified KADDL staff at NVSL to acquire knowledge and learn DNA sequencing of novel and emerging pathogens (e.g. H1N1 virus and others). <LI>Continue and maintain compliance with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and ISO 17025 Quality System standards.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Kissimmee Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (KADDL) of Florida proposed to continue its core member category with NAHLN and apply for the $298,000-fund support from the CSREES Cooperative Agreement initiative. The project aims to strengthen Florida's readiness to respond to animal disease outbreaks and reinforce its ability to safeguard animal and public health. KADDL is equipped with Biosafety Level 2 and 3 laboratories, newly constructed specimen receiving/shipping and necropsy/incineration facilities designed for biosafety and capacity to handle a large number of samples. KADDL is provided with automated and conventional diagnostic systems. It has been NAHLN-approved to perform testing for high-risk diseases, recently, to include screening for H1N1 virus. KADDL is positioned to enhance its testing capabilities with NAHLN and extend support to other laboratories when requested. The staff is proficiency tested and well-trained in biosafety and emergency preparedness. The laboratory is fully accredited with AAVLD. The Quality Systems Manager, Biosafety Committee and KADDL IT team oversee compliance, safety and NAHLN HL7 messaging. KADDL continues to collaborate with the USDA-APHIS area offices, state veterinary and health epidemiologists, the University of Florida and FL's emergency operations center. The laboratory conducts foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak drills to harness its readiness to respond. The potential for Florida to be a point source for endemic or FAD in the nation is high. Its unique geography and international commerce for exotic animal species make it vulnerable for FAD intrusion. Funding support to maintain the state laboratory's infrastructure for diagnostic testing and surveillance is highly invaluable.
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APPROACH: <BR> 1. Sample Handling, Processing, Diagnostic Testing and Biocontainment KADDL will continue testing for AI, END, CWD, CSF, FMD and scrapie and request NAHLN to receive approvals for BSE, VSV and H1N1 testing. It will continue to provide rapid and accurate detection of endemic pathogens using molecular and conventional diagnostic systems (e.g. PRV, avian paramyxovirus, certain arboviruses and others by PCR). KADDL will develop and enhance the laboratory's test capability by developing test protocols for foreign animal diseases and validating these protocols (e.g. Rift Valley Fever, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, African Swine Fever, Rinderpest, Lumpy Skin Disease and others). Tests and validations will be carried out in collaboration with NVSL, FADDL and other NAHLN member laboratories. KADDL will continue to operate and enhance its BSL3 and BSL2 containment facilities; including the operation of the newly-opened 1800-sq.ft S and R and 3000-sq ft N and I facilities <BR><BR>2. Inter-laboratory Collaboration KADDL will establish a stronger collaboration with NVSL, FADDL, UF and other NAHLN member laboratories for research and continuing education activities. The KADDL Telemedicine technology will be utilized to enhance real-time imaging and interactive discussions. KADDL will extend space, testing and staff support for other states impacted by a disease outbreak, endemic or foreign. <BR><BR>3. Laboratory Information System including NAHLN messaging KADDL and the Division of Animal Industry are exploring means to update its Laboratory Information Management System capabilities, to improve its accessioning, testing and reporting interface, including data storage and retrieval. The laboratory will continue to enhance its NAHLN HL7 connectivity. <BR><BR>4. Staff Training and Competency KADDL will continue to require training/workshops among appropriate staff on the biology, epidemiology & diagnostics of foreign and emerging animal diseases and to continue to provide training on biosafety, sample handling and shipping, emergency preparedness, incident response plans, BSL3 practices and laboratory robotics. The laboratory will continue to provide training for NAHLN updated protocols and proficiency testing.<BR><BR> 5. Quality System and Biosafety KADDL is committed to uphold its full accreditation status with AAVLD and will continue to maintain compliance with AAVLD and ISO 17025 standards by maintaining regular physical inspections, document control, non-conformance, corrective action and management reviews.<BR><BR> PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS <BR>1. The performance measures of technical staff will be measured via the NVSL, VLA and NAHLN proficiency tests. <BR>2. The laboratory plans to document and calculate the turn-around-time (TAT) of NAHLN tests performed in the laboratory.<BR> 3. Test effectiveness will be measured by the number of accurate tests versus TAT and non-conformance. The non-conformance will be monitored by the QSM. <BR>4. Overall, KADDL effectiveness will be measured by the number of objectives completed versus the number proposed.