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<OL> <LI> Construction started in November, 2008 of a BSL-3 addition to the current veterinary diagnostic laboratory building. The $14 million funding for the project is from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Work is on track for completion of construction in January, 2010. Net space allocation will be as follows: 1,968 sq. ft. for BSL-3 Ag large animal necropsy 5,464 sq. ft. for BSL-3 laboratory suites 1,734 sq. ft. for BSL-2 multipurpose lab, client areas 3,540 sq. ft. specimen receiving, alkaline digestor, truck wash The addition to the laboratory will allow us to work on high consequence bacterial, viral or prion-containing diagnostic specimens under conditions of excellent biocontainment. It is estimated that instruments and equipment for this building addition will cost about $1.4 million, and so far only a small proportion of funds have been identified. Instruments for testing for prion diseases by immunohistochemistry and manual ELISA have already been purchased, are currently in use, and will be moved into the building addition. The laboratory has been awarded $62,500 by FEMA/PEMA for purchase of equipment, and has a good chance of success in an award of $256,992 from CDC/PA Department of Health. We are seeking $35,000 from CSREES for purchase of the following equipment for handling NAHLN and other high consequence samples in the BSL-3 addition to the laboratory: (i) Two -80 freezers. These are for storage of samples and reagents in the BSL-3 suites, for TSE work, bacteriology and virology (ii) One -20 freezer. This will be used for storage of molecular testing reagents in the BSL-3 suites. (iii) Two refrigerators. These will be used for the storage of samples, reagents and supplies in the BSL-3 suites (iv) One 96 head washer. This will be used for concurrent antigen/antibody based testing of multiple samples in the BSL-3 suites.
<LI>We use the incinerator in our laboratory each week, to dispose of animals or birds that our rendering or composting contractors will not take or that we deem unwise to send to rendering or composting. The refractory lining of the primary burning chamber is cracked. The hearth section of the primary chamber will need replacement of insulation and possible modification, and the refractory lining of the primary chamber will need to be replaced. Once repairs are made, the Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) will need to be retested, and a Relative Accuracy Test Audit (RATA) must be performed in order to have the incinerator recertified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The incinerator in the laboratory needs to have the refractory of its primary burn chamber replaced, and the hearth section needs to be insulated and possibly modified. Then the incinerator will have to be recertified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Cost is estimated at $15,000. The laboratory has a new wing under construction, due for completion January, 2010. It will have a BSL-3 Ag area for necropsy of large animals, BSL-3 suites for diagnostic work within containment on high consequence bacteria, viruses and prions, a BSL-2 multipurpose laboratory, a client area and a truck wash.. A small proportion of equipment for the BSL-3 addition to the laboratory has already been purchased, some is about to be purchased from a funded grant, and another grant application has been submitted. We wish to use CSREES funds to purchase equipment for handling NAHLN diagnostic samples and other high consequence diagnostic samples. The equipment requested is two -80 freezers ($23,000), one -20 freezer (($6,300), two refrigerators ($2,700) and one 96 head washer for antigen/antibody based tests ($3,000).