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The Louisiana Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (LVMDL), an accredited laboratory with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, will work through a cooperative agreement with the USDA and its interagencies to build a strong animal diagnostic network to enhance the biosecurity of the food and agricultural industries of the United States. This laboratory's specific aim is participation in the National Animal Health Diagnostic Network, bringing to it the most advanced diagnostic methodology and capability and a continued vigilant presence along the Gulf of Mexico coast.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The purpose is to build a strong animal diagnostic network to enhance biosecurity of the food and agricultural industries of the United States.
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APPROACH: To achieve the objectives LVMDL will address the following priority areas: 1) Build the infrastructure of the existing laboratory with state of the art equipment to support diagnostic testing. 2) Train existing personnel in new rapid diagnostic assays and hire individuals to expand our current testing capabilities in virology and molecular diagnostics. 3) Establish a Quality Assurance Program to meet the Internal Standards of Operation (ISO17025) and Office of Epizootics (OIE) to include standard operating procedures, and the hiring of a Quality Assurance Manager. 4) Establish a dedicated secure computer network system for reporting domestic (reportable) and foreign diseases to state and federal officials. 5) Renovate existing BSL-2 laboratory facilities to expand capabilities in virology and molecular diagnostics.