Viral Testing Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – VIRAL TESTING CORE Continuous, accurate surveillance for agents of concern is an essential requirement for maintenance of a specific pathogen-free (SPF) breeding colony. In 2009, we transitioned from testing at off-site laboratories to performing all screening assays at the Tulane National Primate Research Center’s (TNPRC) Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core (PDQC). The PDQC is administratively located in the Division of Microbiology and was established at the TNPRC in 2004. The primary mission of the PDQC is to provide diagnostic services to the Division of Veterinary Medicine for establishing and maintaining SPF nonhuman primate colonies. A secondary mission is to provide research support to investigators. The development of onsite viral testing capabilities has resulted in reduced costs and turnaround times, eliminated shipping of samples, and provided a platform for easy expansion for detection of additional agents. Quality assurance of the TNPRC SPF surveillance program is supported by the participation of the PDQC in proficiency panels testing from the Pathogen Detection Working Group (PDWG) of the NIH Nonhuman Primate Research Consortium (NHPRC) and the External Quality Assurance Program Oversight Laboratory (EQAPOL) Luminex program. This section of the application focuses on the function of the Viral Testing Core, techniques used for identification and detection of the target viruses, assay performance and validation, and current and future expansion of testing capabilities. The Aim of this core is to assure the SPF status of the colony through continued viral testing of existing breeding colony animals and all offspring. All animals in the SPF4 colony will be tested a minimum of twice each year for all four target viruses: Type D simian retrovirus (SRV), simian T-lymphotropic virus (STLV), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and herpes B virus (BV). Characterization of the colony beyond the targeted agents supported by the U42 grant will continue through the development and use of additional assays for other pathogens of potential interest.