Progress 08/15/09 to 08/14/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The University of Georgia (UGA) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) system is made up of two laboratories: Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) and Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL). All sections in both laboratories have passed all available proficiency tests for NAHLN and other USDA program diseases (FMD, CSF, AI, END, BSE, scrapie, Johne's disease, EIA and CWD) and collectively have 13 proficiency tested technicians. The Georgia VDLs participate in state and national surveillance programs for AI, brucellosis, SIV, BSE, scrapie, and CSF. The AVDL and TVDIL are fully accredited by the AAVLD, through December 2012. Both laboratories have performed annual quality management reviews for each year during the project period.. The TVDIL provides testing for AI, SIV, CSF, FMD, END and PRV. The AVDL provides testing for AI, BSE, CWD, SIV, CSF, FMD, END and PRV. The TVDIL was selected to participate in both the NAHLN Pseudorabies (PRV) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) surveillance projects in 2010 and again in 2012. Directors and QA/QC managers for both labs have participated in NAHLN training workshops through AAVLD, various webinars and teleconferences throughout the funding period. The TVDIL information system was migrated successfully from VETLIMS to UVIS on July 1, 2009. On June 1, 2010 the TVDIL was reclassified as a NAHLN member laboratory. In 2010 the TVDIL procured funding for a HEPA filter upgrade of the existing BSL3 laboratory space and construction with certification was completed in the fall of 2011. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, the two laboratory directors participated in the NAHLN directors' annual meetings at the annual AAVLD meetings, and two personnel from AVDL participated in the 2010 NAHLN Methods Technical Working Group meeting in Chicago. Currently, 7 pathology faculty members have completed the foreign animal disease training course at Plum Island. Eight technicians from both laboratories routinely participate in all NAHLN proficiency tests. A total of 11 persons from both labs have completed the current USDA online IT security training. Our LIMS application analyst pioneered the process of disease reporting to state and federal authorities using Rhapsody software and UVIS allowing data transmission directly to NAHLN from our laboratory information systems. Both labs have purchased and deployed high throughput equipment for nucleic acid extraction/processing and 7 technicians are trained on using these systems. The Georgia laboratories currently have a written agreement with the North Carolina Diagnostic Laboratory System and verbal agreements with other Southeastern states labs to provide surge testing capacity in an emergency situation. In November, 2012 both laboratories will be officially audited by the AAVLD Accreditation Committee. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) and the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL) have developed a regional capacity to accurately and rapidly diagnose eight USDA program diseases: AI, BSE, CWD, SIV, CSF, FMD, END and PRV. NAHLN funding has been essential to allow personnel in both labs to be proficiently trained and has provided funds for equipment and system upgrades so that the laboratories are adequately prepared in the event of a foreign animal disease or agro-terrorism disease outbreak.Past NAHLN funding has also provided partial support for the purchase of a tissue digester at the AVDL and for upgrading the TVDIL BSL-3 facility to meet current USDA/CDC specifications.In summary, NAHLN funding over the past funding period has enhanced the capabilities of the two Georgia Veterinary Laboratories in the following ways: 1) Enhanced record keeping and data transmission to state and federal authorities. 2) Enhanced preparedness to respond to any accidental or intentional foreign animal disease incidents via better trained and proficiency-tested technicians, as well as, increased capacity to test for several emerging and foreign animal diseases. 3) Enhanced overall laboratory testing capacity as a result of NAHLN networking activities (conference calls, newsletter) and the provision of standardized operating procedures from NAHLN.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/15/10 to 08/14/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The University of Georgia (UGA) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) system is made up of two laboratories: Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) and Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL). Both labs are members of the NAHLN. Over the last several years the Georgia laboratories have continued 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 (FMD, CSF, AI, END, BSE, scrapie, Johne's disease, EIA and CWD) and collectively have 12 proficiency tested technicians. The Georgia VDLs participate in state and national surveillance programs for AI, brucellosis, SIV, BSE, scrapie, and CSF. The AVDL and TVDIL are fully accredited by the AAVLD, through December 2012. Our quality system includes maintenance of standard operating procedures for all laboratory processes, training personnel on quality management, and maintaining adequate training records. In 2010, the two laboratory directors participated in the NAHLN directors' annual meeting in Minneapolis and two personnel from AVDL participated in the NAHLN Methods Technical Working Group meeting in Chicago. Four quality management staff (two from each laboratory) participated in the 2010 NAHLN-sponsored quality training workshop at Ames, IA. Four pathology faculty members have completed the foreign animal disease training course at Plum Island. Technicians at both laboratories routinely participate in all NAHLN proficiency tests. A total of 13 persons (8 from AVDL and 5 from TVDIL) have completed the current USDA online IT security training. Our application analyst has developed a Rhapsody-based interface for transmitting test results directly from our LIMS (UVIS) to the NAHLN database. Messaging using this interface is now the routine method for transmitting avian influenza and BSE test results to NAHLN. We continue to transmit monthly disease reports to the VSLS database, as well as state reportable disease data to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Recently, the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine became the official vendor for our LIMS, which has been re-named VetView. In the last few years, both laboratories have purchased and deployed high throughput equipment for nucleic acid extraction and preparation of PCR master mixes. Currently, 7 technicians (3 at AVDL and 4 at TVDIL) are trained on using these high throughput systems. One technician from the AVDL attended the NAHLN-sponsored high throughput training course in Manhattan, KS in 2010. Currently the Georgia laboratories have a written agreement with North Carolina and verbal agreements with other Southeastern states labs to provide surge testing capacity in an emergency situation. We are members of the FERN and VetLRN. Also in 2010 the TVDIL was reclassified as a NAHLN member laboratory and was selected to participate in the NAHLN Pseudorabies (PRV) surveillance project. Implementation of a HEPA filter upgrade of the existing BSL3 laboratory space at the TVDIL is currently in progress. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) and the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL) have developed a regional capacity to accurately and rapidly diagnose eight USDA program diseases: AI, BSE, CWD, SIV, CSF, FMD, END and PRV. NAHLN funding has allowed personnel in both labs to be proficiently trained and has provided funds for equipment and system upgrades so that the laboratories are optimally prepared in the event of a foreign or agro-terrorism disease outbreak. Staff from both laboratories have continued to participate in all available proficiency testing programs. NAHLN funding has provided partial support for the purchase of a tissue digester and for upgrading one BSL-3 facility to meet USDA/CDC specifications. In summary, NAHLN funding over the past six years has enhanced the capabilities of the two Georgia Veterinary Laboratories in the following ways: 1) Enhanced record keeping and data transmission to state and federal authorities. 2) Enhanced preparedness to respond to any accidental or intentional foreign animal disease incidents resulting in better trained and proficiency-tested technicians, as well as, increased capacity to test for several emerging and foreign animal diseases. 3) Enhanced overall laboratory capacity as a result of NAHLN networking activities (conference calls, newsletter) and the supply of standard operating procedures from NAHLN.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/15/09 to 08/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) and the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL) have developed a regional capacity to accurately and rapidly diagnose eight USDA program diseases: AI, BSE, CWD, SIV, CSF, FMD, END and PRV. NAHLN funding provided partial support for the purchase of a tissue digester and for upgrading one BSL-3 facility to meet USDA/CDC specifications. The remaining $150K funding for the TVDIL BSL-3 HEPA upgrade has been procured and the upgrade should be completed in fall 2010. The TVDIL was selected to participate in the current NAHLN Pseudorabies (PRV) surveillance project effective September 1, 2010. During FY09, the two labs began transmitting monthly disease reports to the VSLS database and continued to transmit reportable disease data to the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture.The TVDIL information system was migrated successfully from VETLIMS to UVIS on July 1, 2009 making it much easier for reporting results using the NAHLN IT system. In 2010 three technicians from AVDL and four from TVDIL successfully completed NAHLN proficiency testing for AI, SIV, and NDV. On June 1, 2010 the TVDIL was reclassified as a NAHLN member laboratory. Directors, lab QA/QC managers and virology staff for both labs routinely participated in NAHLN activities through AAVLD, NAHLN webinars and teleconferences in FY10. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
NAHLN funding has allowed personnel in both labs to be proficiently trained and has provided funds for equipment and system upgrades so that the laboratories are optimally prepared in the event of a foreign or agro-terrorism disease outbreak. Staff from both laboratories have continued to participate in all available proficiency testing programs. The NAHLN IT messaging system is working seamlessly in submitting data from the laboratories to the NAHLN database.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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