Increasing SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) testing capacity at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center

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Project Summary/Abstract The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center (NVDC) is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory, is fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, is a member of FDA-CVM Vet-LIRN network, is a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Level 1 laboratory, and is a certificated laboratory for National Poultry Improvement Plan testing. The laboratory processes over 300,000 specimens annually from a variety of species including livestock, companion animals, poultry, wildlife, and zoo animals. As part of a collaborative effort to enhance surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in animals, more than 3,600 animals diverse animal species were tested in 2022-2023. To increase the diagnostics testing capacity and capabilities for SARS-CoV-2 in animals, the NVDC is seeking funds to purchase a digital PCR system. This equipment will enable the NVDC to enhance SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing by allowing extremely sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animal specimens. Additionally, the digital PCR approaches allows for quantification of SAR- CoV-2 genomes in clinical samples, which will help inform clinicians and One Health partners in assessing virus levels and transmission in animals.