Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction and Purification System to Build Vet-LIRN Testing Capacity

University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

There is a public health need for veterinary laboratories to have significant capacity to test animal diagnostic specimens and food/feed samples rapidly and accurately for the presence of important pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and SARS-CoV-2. The FDA Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) is a group of veterinary laboratories tasked with protecting the health of humans by being able to rapidly and robustly respond to outbreaks associated with animals and animal products. This equipment-only grant requests support for the purchase of a KingFisher Duo Prime semi-automated nucleic acid extraction system. This equipment will expand the capacity of a Vet-LIRN member laboratory (Ryan Small Animal Hospiital Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania’s) to perform additional molecular assays for case investigations and enhance their capability to handle additional specimens when surge capacity is potentially needed. It will also the laboratory to more fully engage with proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparison exercises developed by Vet-LIRN. Assays to be developed or implemented using thie equipment by the laboratory will include detection of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and imipenemase genes from carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.