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Georgia Laboratories continue to develop their capabilities to respond appropriately to a severe disease outbreak. All sections in both laboratories have passed all available proficiency tests for NAHLN and other USDA program diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian influenza, Newcastle disease, BSE, scrapie, and CWD) in their specific disciplines and collectively have eight proficiency tested technicians. Both laboratories participate in state and national surveillance programs for avian influenza and classical swine fever. NAHLN funding during the past five years has enabled us to build our capacity to respond rapidly and adequately to severe disease outbreaks. <P>
Equipment: High throughput testing systems are now available in both laboratories for testing up to 1,248 samples/day by real-time PCR.
<P>Training: NAHLN funding has enabled the training of five technicians in each laboratory in the various disciplines, including IT (Rhapsody software), molecular diagnostics, and quality systems. The University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories will maintain capacity to detect and respond to serious disease threats, which presently includes testing for avian influenza, Newcastle disease, foot-and-mouth disease, and classical swine fever. Other foreign animal diseases will be added to the diagnostic and surveillance repertoire as tests are developed.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories are part of the core laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network established to enhance the ability of the federal laboratory system to respond quickly to foreign animal disease threats. Georgia Laboratories continue to develop their capabilities to respond appropriately to a severe disease outbreak. Both laboratories have passed all available proficiency tests for NAHLN and other USDA program diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian influenza, Newcastle disease, BSE, scrapie, and CWD) in their specific disciplines and collectively have eight proficiency tested technicians. Both laboratories participate in state and national surveillance programs for avian influenza and classical swine fever. NAHLN funding during the past five years has enabled us to build our capacity to respond rapidly and adequately to severe disease outbreaks. High throughput testing systems are now available in both laboratories for testing up to 1,248 samples per day. During FY08 the technical staff positions funded through the NAHLN grant will continue to maintain and enhance disease response capability through, continuous in-house training on real-time PCR, training at NVSL on TSE diagnosis, participation in NAHLN high throughput training in Kansas in July 2008, participation in all available NAHLN proficiency tests, maintaining and enhancing the quality control/quality assurance system to assure high quality diagnostic results, participation in AAVLD quality assurance symposium. The two laboratory Directors will attend the NAHLN emergency response symposium in October 2008. The laboratories will also continue to be represented on the NAHLN Methods Technical Working Group. Our IT specialist will continue to liaise with NAHLN IT and IT specialists from other NAHLN laboratories on matters regarding proper coding and data transfer to NAHLN. The IT group will also continue to participate in the monthly teleconferences and NAHLN quarterly IT meetings with the diagnostic laboratories. Renovations are required in both laboratories to upgrade BSL-3 facilities up to USDA/CDC specifications. Partial NAHLN funding will be used for prospection for these renovations. <P>APPROACH: Plan of Work for FY08: Diagnostics and Training During FY08 the technical staff positions funded through the NAHLN grant will continue to maintain and enhance disease response capability by continuous in-house training on real-time PCR, attending training at NVSL on TSE diagnosis, participation in NAHLN high throughput training in Kansas in July 2008, participation in all available NAHLN proficiency tests, maintaining and enhancing the quality control/quality assurance system to assure high quality diagnostic results, participation in AAVLD quality assurance symposium. The two laboratory Directors will continue to participate in NAHLN activities through the AAVLD; in particular, they will attend the NAHLN emergency response symposium in October 2008. The laboratories will also continue to be represented on the NAHLN Methods Technical Working Group. Information Technology and Data Management - We are waiting for participating disease programs to start receiving production data through the NAHLN program. Our IT specialist will continue to liaise with NAHLN IT and IT specialists from other NAHLN laboratories on matters regarding proper coding and data transfer to NAHLN. The IT group will also continue to participate in the monthly teleconferences and NAHLN quarterly IT meetings with the diagnostic laboratories. Infrastructure - Renovations are required in both laboratories to upgrade BSL-3 facilities up to USDA/CDC specifications. Partial NAHLN funding will be used for prospection for these renovations. <P>
PROGRESS: 2005/07 TO 2006/06<BR>
OUTPUTS: In FY06, The Georgia Laboratories participated in a statewide pilot surveillance testing of 1000 birds for Exotic Newcastle Disease performed at the Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory and in a statewide practice exercise for Avian Influenza. These simulations provided valuable insights to further improve our capability to handle surge tests during an actual outbreak. The Athens Diagnostic Laboratory was selected as one of twelve laboratories to do a feasibility study using a new technology, the Bioplex bead sorter for multiplex PCR, allowing us to perform multiple tests for 96 samples at a time rather than processing one sample for one test at a time. A Program of Work is ongoing between Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana laboratories and state veterinarians in writing official MOU's and to develop specific interstate agreements outlining each state's capability, resources and credentialing protocols. We have a written MOU with the local Federal Laboratory for surge capacity testing during food safety emergencies. <BR>PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. <BR>TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. <BR>PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
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IMPACT: 2005/07 TO 2006/06 <BR>
The Athens Diagnostic Laboratory has increased its weekly throughput of selected diseases from 1200 to at least 40,000. The Athens Diagnostic Lab continues to provide regional Bovinge Spongiform Encephalopathy testing and the Tifton Diagnostic Lab is prepared to provide regional testing for Classical Swine Fever at a throughput of 960 samples/week and has purchased additional blocks for the thermocycler to increase test capability. We have begun testing for Chronic Wasting Disease for the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study department at the University of Georgia. In April 2006, we performed 69 rapid assays using the BioRad equipment. The Athens and Tifton laboratories have continued to train and proficiency test additional technicians to augment our ability to respond to a disease outbreak and currently have 4 technicians trained and tested in those diseases for which tests are available. Our Information Technology personnel have attended all training sessions provided to connect to the NAHLN reporting system. Both laboratory directors are members of the State Agriculture Response Team and the multistate Emergency Mutual Aid Compact which coordinate response and allow sharing of resources in the event of an emergency. They have also completed Incident Command Training III and MA/MC and have participated in statewide simulations for END and AI.