Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The funding was used to keep abreast of foreign and emerging animal disease updates. The following training/workshops were attended by the AHDL staff utilizing the funding: i. Contagious equine metritis (CEM)laboratory training at National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA in October 2016. ii. NPIP Avian Influenza workshop in Atlanta, GA in August 2017. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?i. Participate in the NAHLN mission related meetings, trainings, webinars, and workshops ii. Participate in proficiency testing for foreign and emerging animal diseases iii. Strengthen sample receiving, accessioning, and necropsy in support of foreign and emerging animal disease surveillance and investigations iv. Maintain quality management system in compliance with the ISO 17025 standard
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Strengthened Laboratory Sample Receiving: The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (AHDL)is a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and performed surveillance testing for foreign and emerging animal diseases. The testing included avian Influenza surveillance of live bird markets, auctions, and backyard flocks in NJ. The laboratory also participated in Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS),Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) proficiency testing. The laboratory participated in foreign animal disease investigations in collaboration with the New Jersey State Veterinarian and USDA-APHIS-VS Assistant District Director. Funds were used to support necropsy specimen collection, quality assurance compliance, sample receipt, and accessioning for above programs. Participated in Emergency Preparedness Exercise/Drill: The AHDL participated in an emergency preparedness exercise in collaboration with the NAHLN program office along with 23 other laboratories from across the nation. The goal was to test following capabilities: I. Capability to receive and capture data on large number of bar coded samples for Avian Influenza (AI) testing. II. Capability to report out large number of AI test results to the NAHLN utilizing electronic messaging feature of the AHDL's Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The exercise was conducted on three consecutive days at high volume. The exercise highlighted the AHDL's strengths and weaknesses in accessioning AI samples and workflow that may happen during a disease outbreak. It tested staff skills handling barcode equipment, use of software for bar code entry, and electronic messaging of laboratory results. During the exercise the AHDL identified a bar code reading issue that was referred to the LIMS vendor for resolution. Overall, the AHDL's sample receiving, accessioning, and result reporting workflows performed satisfactorily during the exercise. Improved Laboratory's Quality Assurance Compliance: The laboratory was admitted as a NAHLN member laboratory for another year after successful submission of the NAHLN checklist and quality assurance documents. This approval lasts until April 2018. The laboratoryobtained ISO 17025 accreditation in July 2017. A laboratory staff member participated in the NAHLN QMS training in July 2017.
Publications
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