Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Veterinarians and producers interested in minimizing the impact of disease and ensuring a high-quality, abundant, affordable, wholesome, and safe food supply. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We capitalize on the close working relationship between our veterinary diagnosticians and technical staff to facilitate our staff's understanding of the technical aspects of the assays being conducted, pathogens being tested, and the impact of their role in safeguarding US animal agriculture How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All of the USDA associated surveillance test results conducted at the ISU VDL are reported to the NAHLN. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Moving forward into 2020-2021, the ISU VDL will plan to continue to meet the commitments and expectations associated with being a Level 1 Laboratory in the NAHLN. Such commitments are outlined and detailed more in full in the "2020 Agreement for Participation in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) as a Level 1 Laboratory". These commitments largely center on maintaining and continuing to increase the NAHLN capabilities and capacity in addressing an adverse animal health event such as may occur with an emerging disease detection or foreign animal disease outbreak. Specific areas of focus center on sustaining and continual advancement of the ISU VDL's veterinary diagnostic information technology capabilities, quality system, and overall diagnostic testing capabilities and testing capacities for diseases of high consequence to US animal agriculture. Such capabilities and continuously improvements are largely brought about through sustaining depth of well-trained and highly competent technical staff, and in maintaining a capable, functional, and well-equipped facility.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity inclusive of broad competence in HL7 messaging. The ISU VDL further developed and on-boarded the use of a diagnostic data warehouse application and portal built to receive diagnostic data via use of HL7 messaging standards. This built for purpose data warehouse application aims to greatly enhance the ability of permissioned users (lay-persons) to conduct open-ended query of diagnostic data. The ISU VDL continued to make significant progress in transitioning the ISU VDL's web-based submission forms used for livestock species over to the recently developed (HTML based) application used to render a dynamic print-out of the submission form upon receipt of the samples at the laboratory. The VDL also onboarded a first of its kind application for incorporating readily searchable five-part diagnostic codes (species/system affected/insult type/tissue affected or lesion/disease or etiology) for tissue-based (sick or dead animal) case submissions. The ISU VDL transitioned all of ISU VDL servers to a virtual environment to provide for more real-time back-up and redundancies of the VDL's information technology platforms used to sustain VDL's service operations. The VDL acquired and implemented the use of a reverse proxy server to enhance the security of ISU VDL's servers from external web-based threats. The ISU VDL also fully implement the recently developed invoice management application on the VDL Client Web Portal that enables VDL clientele to view their current and past transactions and pay selected invoices by credit-card, bank routing number, or check. 2. FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL sustained more than fifteen molecular and five serology staff proficient in performing the primary NAHLN assays conducted at the ISU VDL. The VDL acquired, installed, and implemented the use of an additional 30 feet of linear bench space (counter-top space, high-volume centrifuges, and IT stations) to enhance lab capacity for processing samples requiring centrifugation prior to PCR testing. The VDL on-boarded and fully integrated the use of an additional liquid handling unit (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) for use in the PCR testing conducted in ISU VDL's secondary molecular diagnostic testing laboratory (i.e., ISU VDL's Health Assurance Testing Laboratory). The VDL continued to expand the use of business intelligence software (Tableau) to raise awareness and monitor client capture of best submission practice discounts. VDL's best submission practice discounts aim to enhance the quality, scalability, and premises level traceability of the diagnostic services being provided. The VDL also continued to support and participate in Iowa-based and neighboring state FAD investigations and workshops (exercises) in cooperation with federal and state animal health officials.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Veterinarians and producers interested in minimizing the impact of disease and ensuring a high-quality, abundant, affordable, wholesome, and safe food supply. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We capitalize on the close working relationship between our veterinary diagnosticians and technical staff to facilitate our staff's understanding of the technical aspects of the assays being conducted, pathogens being tested, and the impact of their role in safeguarding US animal agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All of the USDA associated surveillance test results conducted at the ISU VDL are reported to the NAHLN. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Moving forward into 2019-2020, we propose to continue to meet the commitments and expectations associated with being a Level 1 Laboratory in the NAHLN. The proposed system improvement objectives in the coming year include: 1) continual advancement of ISU VDL's systems for enhancing the quality, traceability, utility, and connectivity of diagnostic information inclusive of broad competence in HL-7 messaging, and 2) enhancing FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities. 1. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity inclusive of broad competence in HL7 messaging. The ISU VDL plans to: 1) onboard the use of a diagnostic data warehouse application and portal built to receive diagnostic data via use of HL7 messaging standards, 2) transition the remainder of ISU VDL's web-based submission forms used for livestock species over to the recently developed (HTML based) application used to render a dynamic print-out of the submission form upon receipt of the samples at the laboratory, 3) onboard a first of its kind application for incorporating readily searchable five-part diagnostic codes (species/system affected/insult type/tissue affected or lesion/disease or etiology) for tissue-based (sick or dead animal) case submissions, 4) transition all ISU VDL servers to a virtual environment to provide for more real-time back-up and redundancies of the VDL's information technology platforms used to sustain VDL's service operations, 5) acquire and implement the use of a reverse proxy server to enhance the security of ISU VDL's servers from external web-based threats, and 6) fully implement the recently developed invoice management application on the VDL Client Web Portal that enables VDL clientele to view their current and past transactions and pay selected invoices by credit-card, bank routing number, or check. 2. FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL aims to: 1) sustain at least fifteen molecular and five serology staff proficient in performing the primary NAHLN assays conducted at the ISU VDL; 2) acquire, install, and implement use of an additional 24 to 30 ft. of linear bench space (counter-top space, high-volume centrifuges, and IT stations) to enhance lab capacity for processing samples requiring centrifugation prior to PCR testing; 3) onboard and integrate the use of a third liquid handling unit (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) for use in the PCR testing conducted in ISU VDL's secondary molecular diagnostic testing laboratory (i.e., ISU VDL's Health Assurance Testing Laboratory); 4) expand use of business intelligence software (Tableau) to raise awareness and monitor client capture of best submission practice discounts, 5) complete a Veterinary Medicine Building wide (ISU CVM) FAD response plan, and 6) continue to support and participate in Iowa-based and neighboring state FAD investigations and workshops (exercises) in cooperation with federal and state animal health officials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity The ISU VDL launched a mobile-friendly version of ISU VDL's Client Web Portal in March 2018. This new development provides VDL clientele a stepwise improvement in the anytime, anywhere access to the suite of tools, applications, information, and capabilities that reside in their personalized access to the VDL Client Web Portal. The VDL successfully developed and launched an improved (HTML based) application for printing-off the output of electronic (web) submissions received at the laboratory. With this new development, only the specific tests requests selected by the client are included in the printed-version of the submission form that is generated upon receipt of the submission at the laboratory. This new development provides the benefit that the number of tests made available for client-selection is no longer limited to what fits onto a paper-based submission form, and it makes the identification of the specific tests selected by the client much more clear and evident to the technical staff at the laboratory. The VDL has made tremendous progress in the development and use of a built for purpose and scalable application that enables lay person mapping of tests in LIMS and their corresponding results to the appropriate LOINC. The application has been developed to be readily map the more conventional "test & report" type of assays most commonly used in livestock disease related surveillance and diagnostic testing applications (e.g., nucleic acid, antigen, agent, and antibody detection type of assays). Making advances in being able to readily and scalably map diagnostic assays and test results to the appropriate LOINCs is a foundational towards broadly advancing the utility of HL7 messaging, inter-laboratory connectivity, and use of state of the art diagnostic data warehousing applications. In a related effort funded by the Swine Health and Information Center (SHIC), the ISU VDL is currently in the process of developing a novel and broadly applicable diagnostic warehouse application the will enable permissioned users to aggregate, archive, retrieve, and subsequently analyze veterinary diagnostic data from one or any number of veterinary diagnostic labs in the USDA's National Animal Health Lab Network. The ISU VDL completed the development and beta testing of an extension of the "Invoice Page" on ISU VDL's Client Web Portal that enables clientele to pay selected (queried) invoices. This novel development is fully synched with the ISU accounts payable system and will enable clientele to pay selected invoices and access a history of their past payments and payments in-progress. Establishing such user-friendly, flexible, and electronic means for invoicing and receiving payments for diagnostic services being provided is an important component of enhancing lab capacity and mitigating the longer-term administrative overhead costs of operating a diagnostic laboratory. 2. FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL continues to expand NAHLN testing capacities, enhance technical staff training and proficiency in foreign and emerging animal disease diagnostics, and maintain substantial depth in staff member proficiency testing and overall preparedness. ISU VDL's molecular section continues to be the largest of its kind amongst food animal veterinary diagnostic labs in North America conducting more than 450,000 molecular diagnostic and/or genetic sequencing assays over the course of the past year. Sustaining depth in proficiency-tested staff is critical for ISU VDL's ability to effectively respond to emerging diseases and provide surge capacity to the NAHLN during a time of crisis. The ISU VDL acquired and fully integrated the use of two additional of liquid handling units (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) for use in the PCR testing conducted in ISU VDL's secondary molecular diagnostic testing laboratory (i.e., ISU VDL's Health Assurance Testing Laboratory). One instrument is being used for transferring samples from tubes into the 96-well plates to be extracted, and the other for transferring the extracted samples to appropriate wells in the PCR plates. These instruments are fully integrated and taking direction from ISU VDL's two inter-related software applications (i.e., Molecular Extraction Management System or MEMS, and the Molecular Assay Result System or MARS) that are used to electronically create the extraction plate maps, build PCR plate maps, link to QA/QC data, and automatically parse test results to LIMS. The use of barcoded plates and the aforementioned front and back-end connectivity to ISU LIMS more fully optimizes the benefits and capabilities that the use of liquid handlers brings to ISU VDL molecular testing procedures (i.e., improved quality assurance and increased testing capacities). The VDL fully on-boarded and has seen broad client adoption of its recently developed "EZ Ship Program". EZ-SHIP simplifies and provides cost effective (UPS Ground, Next-Day Air, and Saturday Delivery) shipping solutions to VDL Clientele. This new program enables VDL Clientele to generate UPS shipping labels to ship packages to the ISU VDL from anywhere in the contiguous United States. VDL Clientele generate these customized (Client Specific) labels from the VDL Client Web Portal. The labels come prepared with the VDL Client's return address and the ISU VDL shipping address. There are no fees assessed for generating the shipping labels. VDL Clientele are assessed an EZ Ship Fee on case submissions received in packages utilizing the EZ-SHIP labels. This new shipping application simplifies the process of getting diagnostic submissions from the field to the VDL and expands the scalability (capacity) of VDL's diagnostic service operations. 3. Quality System ISU VDL's Quality System has continued to make significant improvement in the past year. The ISU VDL's Quality Team (4 full-time staff) continued to work diligently to enhance the functionality and utility of ISU VDL's CAPA Flash Report and Client Impacting Non-Conformance Reports. These reports provide a condensed summary of the overall and section level breakdown of the CAPA activity and Client Impacting Non Conformances. These user-friendly reports being generated on a monthly basis provide a concise summary of these critical quality assurance measures and activities. ISU VDL Quality Team have continued to work closely with ECL2 and attending their annual symposium to improve their working knowledge and utility of Q-Pulse Report Designer for making customized reports for ISU VDL Quality System specific use cases. The ISU VDL also successfully piloted the use of both Microsoft Excel and a business intelligence tool (Tableau) for monitoring the overall and client specific capture of ISU VDL's "Best Submission Practice Discount".
Publications
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Veterinarians and producers interested in minimizing the impact of disease and ensuring a high-quality, abundant, affordable, wholesome, and safe food supply. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We capitalize on the close working relationship between our veterinary diagnosticians and technical staff to facilitate our staff's understanding of the technical aspects of the assays being conducted, pathogens being tested, and the impact of their role in safeguarding US animal agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All of the USDA associated surveillance test results conducted at the ISU VDL are reported to the NAHLN. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Moving forward into 2018-2019, we propose to continue to meet the commitments and expectations associated with being a Level 1 Laboratory in the NAHLN. The proposed system improvement objectives in the coming year include: 1) continual advancement of ISU VDL's systems for enhancing the quality, traceability, utility, and connectivity of diagnostic information; 2) enhancing FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities; and 3) continual improvement of ISU VDL's Quality System. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity The ISU VDL plans to: 1) enhance VDL Clientele's understanding and ability to more fully realize capabilities and benefits associated with using the recently introduced mobile-friendly version of ISU VDL's Client Web Portal for making electronic submissions and retrieving results; 2) develop and launch an improved (HTML based) application for printing-off the output of electronic (web) submissions at the laboratory; 3) complete development and fully integrate use of a built for purpose and scalable application that enables lay person mapping of tests in LIMS and their corresponding results to the appropriate LOINC; and 4) create and launch an extension of the recently developed "Invoice Page" on ISU VDL's Client Web Portal that enables clientele to pay selected (queried) invoices on-line via credit-card payment. 2. FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL aims to: 1) sustain at least ten molecular and four serology staff proficient in performing the primary NAHLN assays conducted at the ISU VDL; 2) on-board and integrate the use of a second suite of liquid handling units (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) for use in the PCR testing conducted in ISU VDL's secondary molecular diagnostic testing laboratory (i.e., ISU VDL's Health Assurance Testing Laboratory); 3) fully on-board and implement recently developed "EZ Ship Program"; and 4) continue to support and participate in Iowa-based and neighboring state FAD investigations in cooperation with federal and state animal health officials. 3. Quality System Our primary improvement objectives are to: 1) enhance functionality and utility of ISU VDL's CAPA Flash Report; 2) advance capabilities of the recently developed test validation application; 3) improve working knowledge and utility of Q-Pulse Report Designer; and iv) pilot use of business intelligence software for monitoring overall and client specific capture of ISU VDL's "Best Submission Practice Discount".
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The 2017-2018 project objectives have been focused on: 1) continual advancement of ISU VDL's systems for enhancing the quality, traceability, utility, and connectivity of diagnostic information; 2) enhancing FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities; and 3) continual improvement of ISU VDL's Quality System. Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity The ISU VDL successfully developed and launched a mobile-friendly version of ISU VDL's Client Web Portal. This new mobile-friendly website provides VDL clientele an improved application for completing web-based submissions and viewing case results on their personal mobile device. While the mobile-friendly version of the VDL Client Web Portal is not as fully capable or expected to replace utility of desktop version, this new tool provides clientele a much more user-friendly means for retrieving results and making electronic submissions when access to a desktop computer with an internet connection may be less convenient or not available. This development has unquestionably provided VDL clientele a stepwise improvement in the anytime, anywhere access to the suite of tools, applications, information, and capabilities that reside in their personalized access to the VDL Client Portal. The ISU VDL was also successful in developing and implementing the use of two inter-related software applications (i.e., Molecular Extraction Management System or MEMS, and the Molecular Assay Result System or MARS) that are used to electronically create the extraction plate maps, build PCR plate maps, link to QA/QC data, and automatically parse test results to LIMS. These new applications have both front and back-end connectivity to the ISU VDL's Laboratory Information Management System (ISU LIMS). Additionally, the electronically generated extraction and PCR plate map files are uploaded and provide the necessary guidance to the recently acquired liquid handling instruments (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) that are used for loading and transferring samples and reagents onto and amongst the appropriate and now bar-coded extraction and PCR plates. These extensive software developments have been essential for the ISU VDL to more fully capture the suite of benefits that utilizing the liquid handlers (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) for sample and reagent distribution provide. An additional web-based improvement in connectivity achieved in the 2017-2018 project included the development and launch of an "Invoices" page on the ISU VDL Client Web Portal. This new development enables VDL clientele to readily query and view the payment status of current or past invoices. Users can readily download pdf copies of invoices either individually or in mass via a zip-file to a folder on their personal computer. This new application is especially useful to accounting staff responsible for reconciling payments. 2. Enhancing FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL continues to expand NAHLN testing capacities and enhance technical staff training and proficiency in foreign and emerging animal disease diagnostics. ISU VDL on-boarded and fully integrated the use of five recently acquired (additional) liquid handling units (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) into its primary high-throughput molecular diagnostic testing laboratory. Coupling the aforementioned innovative software development efforts (i.e., MEMS and MARS) with the recent investments and transition for utilizing the liquid handling system in ISU VDL's primary high-throughput molecular diagnostic laboratory have created a very substantial and sustainable improvement in the quality assuredness, capability, and testing capacity of the ISU VDL. While any necessary pooling of samples prior to testing and the loading of the master-mix into the PCR plates are generally done via conventional hand pipetting methods; the remainder of the sample and reagent loading, movement, and manipulation over the course of the PCR testing procedure are now done by the suite of liquid handling instruments in ISU VDL's primary high-throughput molecular diagnostic laboratory. The ISU VDL also completed the renovation, repurposing, and repopulation of the space that was vacated by the diagnostic pathologists and diagnostician trainees who moved out into the Vet Med Annex (i.e., a 3,850 ft2 office building with 10 individual faculty offices, 2 shared trainee office spaces, and a conference room) that was populated in the 2016-2017 project. The vacated space on the ground floor of the VDL had been successfully repurposed into mix of office space for VDL staff and graduate students, and a fully equipped research lab space for ISU VDL's diagnostic pathologists. This repurposing of the vacated space included expanding and modestly updating the VDL Submission Office (680 ft2) to include six stand-alone desks (workstations) with a connecting office to the head of ISU VDL Client Services (VDL Client Education & Outreach). Client Services provides oversight to VDL Case Receiving, Case Entry, External Shipping functions, and Client Communications (Phones, Website, E-mail pushes). This update enables all of ISU VDL's "front-door" functions (incoming calls and walk-ins) to be housed in a centralized and space appropriate location. In 2017, the ISU VDL began to provide a "Best Submission Practice Discount" whose requirements and cost savings are additive to the "Web Submission Fee Credit" that was initiated in 2016. The ISU VDL continued in its client education efforts and have been investing heavily in this effort to encourage practices that improve the overall quality, efficiency, scalability, value, and sustainability of the diagnostic services provided. It is our hope that these investments will ultimately provide long-term benefits to all VDL stakeholders and industries served. ISU VDL's molecular section continues to be the largest of its kind amongst food animal veterinary diagnostic labs in North America conducting more than 400,000 molecular diagnostic and/or genetic sequencing assays over the course of the past year.Sustaining depth in proficiency-tested staff is critical for ISU VDL's ability to effectively respond to emerging diseases and provide surge capacity to the NAHLN during a time of crisis. 3. Quality System ISU VDL's Quality System has continued to make significant improvement in the past year. The ISU VDL's Quality Team (total of 4 full-time staff) has worked closely with technical support (training) provided by ECL2 to enhance our utility of the Training Module in Q-Pulse. The ISU VDL now utilizes customized query and reports generated via Q-Pulse as a primary means of monitoring the status of VDL faculty and staff training and associated proficiency testing requirements. The ISU VDL successfully developed and on-boarded a new application in ISU LIMS that automatically notates test results that have been conducted in part or in total at an external laboratory and assays that have not been fully validated for the testing conducted. In conjunction with this new development, the ISU VDL also adopted the suite of new procedures that will be required to keep this new application current as any new test or status changes are made to test offerings. The ISU VDL has also more fully integrated the use of more than 200 electronic (wireless) temperature monitors (Amega System) that provide 24/7 remote monitoring of temperature sensitive sample storage devices (freezers, refrigerators, and incubators) across all sections of the VDL.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Veterinarians and producers interested in minimizing the impact of disease and ensuring a high-quality, abundant, affordable, wholesome, and safe food supply. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We capitalize on the close working relationship between our veterinary diagnosticians and technical staff to facilitate our staff's understanding of the technical aspects of the assays being conducted, pathogens being tested, and the impact of their role in safeguarding US animal agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All of the USDA associated surveillance test results conducted at the ISU VDL are reported to the NAHLN. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Moving forward into 2017-2018, we propose to continue to meet the commitments and expectations associated with being a Level 1 Laboratory in the NAHLN. The proposed system improvement objectives in the coming year include 1) continual advancement ISU VDL's systems for enhancing the quality, traceability, utility, and connectivity of diagnostic information; 2) enhancing FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities; and 3) continual improvement of ISU VDL's Quality System.= Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity The ISU VDL plans to i) develop and launch a mobile-friendly version ISU VDL's Client Web Portal; ii) complete development and fully integrate the use of ISU LIMS associated "Molecular Application" that serves to electronically integrate the entirety of the molecular diagnostic work flow (e.g., building extraction plate maps, creating the associated PCR plate maps, referencing QA/QC data, and parsing interpreted results to ISU LIMS); and iii) create and launch an "Invoice Page" on ISU VDL's Client Web Portal that enables clientele to query and view the status of invoices, and select invoices (individually or in-mass) for download via zip-file to their personal computer 2. FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL aims to i) sustain at least ten molecular and four serology staff proficient in performing the primary NAHLN assays conducted at the ISU VDL; ii) fully integrate the use of the five recently acquired (additional) liquid handling units (JANUSTM, PerkinElmer) into high-throughput molecular diagnostic workflow; iii) enhance clientele's understanding and ability to more fully capture benefits associated with recently introduced "Best Submission Practice Discount" that financially incents clientele to adopt submission practices that greatly enhance the quality, traceability, efficiency, and scalability ISU VDL's diagnostic services; iv) complete renovation, repurposing, and fully repopulating the space vacated by the diagnostic pathologists and diagnostician trainees moving into the recently populated Vet Med Annex; and v) continue to support and participate in Iowa-based and neighboring state FAD investigations in cooperation with federal and state animal health officials. 3. Quality System Our primary improvement objectives are to i) fully adopt and more fully capture efficiencies of using the "Training Module" in Q-PulseTM as the primary means for monitoring status of staff training and proficiency testing; ii) fully onboard a new application in ISU LIMS that serves to automate the process of flagging test results that have been conducted in part or in total at an external laboratory and assays that have not been fully validated for the testing conducted, and adopt the suite of new procedures that will be required to keep the application current with any new test or status changes made to test offerings (inclusive of mapping each new test to the appropriate LOINCTM); and iii) more fully integrate use of the recently on-boarded Amega System for 24/7 monitoring of temperature sensitive sample storage devices (freezers, refrigerators, and incubators) across all sections of the VDL.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
LIMS and web-based diagnostic data management capabilities and connectivity ISU VDL has continued to make significant progress on its software development and web-based applications serving to improve the quality, traceability, utility, and connectivity of veterinary diagnostic records. We have invested to improve the functionality of the ISU VDL Client Web Portal for making electronic (web-based) submissions. Submitters can now utilize the VDL's Client Web Portal to i) create new web submissions from scratch; ii) create and manage customized submission templates that can be used again and again when making submissions that involve a common set of test requests and/or instructions; iii) create new web submissions from existing submission templates; iv) create new web submissions by "cloning" past web submissions; v) create or complete "pending web submissions"; vi) create a pathology request and an accompanying or linked Health Test Request Submission from the same premises; and vii) electronically generate a farm-site specific paper-based submission form inclusive of the owner and farm-site specific information that exists in the VDL client's personalized library of owner and farm site information. The extensive development of the "Owners & Sites" management tool that links, synchs, and time-stamps VDL clients' owner and site information with these same tables in ISU LIMS was a critical development that enables VDL clientele to have complete independence and control of their owner/site lists. Web submissions enable seamless connectivity of incoming information transfer from the submitter to the VDL. VDL clientele select the appropriate owner and site via drop-down menus that subsequently pull-in the full complement of identifying information (e.g., PINS, state of origin, etc.) from the client's personalized library of owner and site information. A series of ISU VDL client web-portal video-based tutorials is available on ISU VDL's website (Resources - Client Services, https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdl/web-based-tools). ISU VDL's electronic based submissions have increased more than 10-fold since January 2015. As of May 2017, 62% of swine submissions are generated electronically via the ISU VDL Client Portal, and more than 50% of all of ISU VDL's submissions are being submitted online. The ISU VDL successfully launched a series of related applications (Client Profile, Reporting Preferences, & Daily Summary Report) that serve to enhance the client experience, connectivity between lab and client, and provide clientele a first of its kind mobile-friendly application by which VDL clientele are receiving, interpreting, and subsequently distributing the case results from the VDL each day. The Client Profile enables ISU VDL Clientele to actively manage their contact information. Individuals within a given Clinic can be designated to update and actively manage the Submitter specific contact information for the Clinic and each of the Submitters within their respective Clinic. The Reporting Preferences tool enables Clientele to actively manage their preferences as to if, when, how often, and to whom the Daily Summary Report is sent each day. The Daily Summary Report enables VDL Clientele to receive an up-to-date summary of their open cases in a singular e-mail once or more each day. The ISU VDL has developed and on-boarded a number of novel intra-laboratory software developments that collectively aim to enhance the quality, efficiencies, and capabilities of the VDL. This updated application provides for a more intuitive sequential order for entry, viewing, and reviewing final product. The ISU VDL built an "Accessioning Application" that is used to rapidly create a new accession, enter sample inventory, enter specimen type(s), and assign lab section(s) of destination into LIMS during the accessioning process. Once the case has been accessioned into LIMS, the lab section(s) of destination have visibility of the case information entered and submission form (scanned document) associated with that case. Cases leave the Receiving and Accessioning Lab Space barcoded by accession number and with stickers generated from the Accessioning Tool that indicates the number of samples, specimen type(s), and lab section(s) of destination. ISU VDL developed the ISU ELISA Information Management System (EIMS). EIMS is a customizable software application used to electronically build ELISA plate maps, use test-specific algorithms to interpret results, accept or reject plates based upon control values, link optical density values of controls to statistical process control charts, and automatically integrate results into ISU LIMS. ISU VDL developed an improved case coordination application "Case Coordination Cockpit" associated with ISU LIMS that provides case coordinators enhanced visibility and one-click access to all of the pertinent information needed to view when the diagnostician is completing case reports. The ISU VDL continued to make incremental progress on our highly collaborative efforts on developing a broadly applicable and streamlined system for linking veterinary diagnostic laboratory submissions, corresponding test results, attending veterinarian insight, and an interpreted health status of farm sites to an exceptionally capable spatiotemporal disease management tool (Disease BioPortal®, UC Davis) for use in area-regional, veterinary clinic, or production system specific swine health monitoring and disease control initiatives. Additionally, through collaborations with the USDA NAHLN, the ISU VDL has continued to maintain a first of its kind, web-based, dynamic summary report of real-time diagnostic results (identified only to the premises state of origin) ascertained from VDLs across the US and integrated into a web-based dashboard reporting tool (Disease BioPortal®). This national-level SECD report is updated weekly and hosted on the American Association of Swine Veterinarians website. 2. Enhancing FAD preparedness and NAHLN testing capacities The ISU VDL continues to expand NAHLN testing capacities and enhance technical staff training and proficiency in foreign and emerging animal disease diagnostics.The ISU VDL completed the addition of a temporary, stand-alone, office and conference room facility (Vet Med Annex, 3,850 ft2) located adjacent to VDL submission entrance to house our team of Diagnostic Pathologists.ISU VDL's molecular section continues to be the largest of its kind amongst food animal veterinary diagnostic labs in North America conducting more than 400,000 molecular diagnostic and/or genetic sequencing assays over the course of the past year.Sustaining depth in proficiency-tested staff is critical for ISU VDL's ability to effectively respond to emerging diseases and provide surge capacity to the NAHLN during a time of crisis. 3. Staff training in foreign and emerging animal disease diagnostics The ISU VDL is a high-volume and high-throughput veterinary diagnostic laboratory on the front lines of animal agriculture. The ISU VDL's team of approximately 153 faculty and staff processed more than 80,000 cases and conducted more than 1,200,000 diagnostic assays in 2016. With more than 95% of the ISU VDL's heavy case-load being food animal in nature, it is essential for ISU VDL faculty and staff to be well trained in recognizing and capable of diagnosing diseases that are of high consequence to US animal agriculture. Dr. Phil Gauger (ISU VDL Diagnostic Pathologist and Section Leader of ISU VDL's Molecular and Virology Diagnostic Services) continues to work closely with the molecular technical staff. We capitalize on the close working relationship between our veterinary diagnosticians and technical staff to facilitate our staff's understanding of the technical aspects of the assays being conducted, pathogens being tested, and the impact of their role in safeguarding US animal agriculture.
Publications
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