FDA Vet-LIRN Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Cooperative Agreement Program funding to increase sample analysis in the event of animal food or drug related illness

Romano 2022 Project Summary/Abstract The objective of this Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) Cooperative Agreement Program is to maintain increased sample analysis capabilities for the FDA through partnership with Vet-LIRN laboratories. An animal food- or drug-related illness or other large scale animal food/feed emergency event requires surge capacity testing of implicated diagnostic or animal food samples. Testing includes chemical and microbiological analysis of samples such as animal food/feed/drugs, environmental samples related to animal food/feed/drug production, and animal diagnostic necropsy or clinical samples. In the event of a large-scale chemical or biological contamination affecting animal food or drug products, the UKVDL performs selected analyses of diagnostic samples collected and supplied to the laboratory by FDA or other government agencies. Federal or State surveillance assignments will also be a source of samples for analyses. The overall goal of the cooperative agreement is to continue developing, improving, and using university, state, and federal veterinary diagnostic laboratory testing capabilities in concert to respond to large-scale events. The cooperative program will also continue to standardize analyses performed at member laboratories by encouraging use of standardized analytical methods and equipment, analytical worksheets, and electronic reporting of results. Training and proficiency testing will continue to be provided for new methods, and Quality Management systems will be further enhanced. Small scale method development and method validation projects will continue as directed by the Vet-LIRN Program Office. Funding will be used for supplies, equipment maintenance, and personnel time.