NAHLN: MAINTAIN LEVEL 1 STATUS AND INCREASE NAHLN CAPABILITIES AND CAPACITY IN ADDRESSING AN ADVERSE ANIMAL HEALTH EVENT SUCH AS MAY OCCUR WITH AN EMERGING DISEASE DETECTION OR FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASE

Non Technical Summary
Early detection, response, and recovery to an emerging or foreign animal infectious disease agent, whether accidentally or deliberately introduced, is dependent upon a qualified, reliable, and secure network of laboratories strategically located throughout the United States. In response to this need, the USDA National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) was established in 2002 as a comprehensive and fully coordinated surveillance and monitoring system of animal disease. The goal of this current proposal is for continued participation of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University (a NAHLN laboratory since 2002) as a Level 1 Laboratory under the NAHLN re-structure implemented in 2016. The goals for this proposal are to 1) meet all responsibilities as a Level 1 NAHLN Laboratory; and 2) increase NAHLN capabilities and capacity to address an adverse animal health event such as may occur with an emerging disease detection or foreign animal disease outbreak. These goals will be accomplished by providing: 1) standardized test procedures, reference materials and equipment; 2) laboratories of appropriate biosafety and biosecurity levels; 3) quality management system requirements; 4) interconnected electronic reporting and transmission of data; and 5) evaluation for emergency preparedness. During the funding period expected results will be accomplished by: 1) supporting IT personnel to electronically message all diagnostic test results under the WADDL testing scope in specified timelines using HL7 standards, participating in messaging competency events, developing new messages as needed, providing diagnostic data per reporting requirements, and complying with IT system access and connectivity requirements; 2) providing, maintaining and utilizing high throughput testing equipment; 3) maintaining full ISO 17025-based laboratory accreditation by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the associated quality management personnel, and attending and conducting quality management training as needed; 4) supporting laboratory personnel to rapidly test samples in support of disease investigations / surveillance/outbreaks, assist other laboratories during emergencies, utilize the NAHLN Portal, and maintain administrative requirements for federal funding received for NAHLN activities; 5) successfully completing appropriate proficiency tests, training in emerging disease advanced diagnostics such as whole genome sequencing and analysis, and supporting NAHLN in establishing technical aspects of emerging disease detection and reporting; and 6) attending NAHLN sponsored drills and surveys as needed. The impact of accomplishing the project goals would be to provide national laboratory capacity and capability to quickly and effectively address an adverse animal health event such as may occur with an emerging disease detection or foreign animal disease outbreak.