The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) and Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL) received a combined $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the 2023 American Rescue Plan funding allocated to National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) member labs. The funds will be used to expand the laboratories’ IT capacity, improve quality assurance processes, and upgrade equipment.
NAHLN is a network of animal disease diagnostic laboratories that was created by the USDA to provide ongoing disease surveillance, respond quickly to disease events, communicate diagnostic outcomes to decision makers, and meet diagnostic needs during animal disease outbreaks. The VDL and MPTL provide surveillance for foreign animal diseases such as African swine fever and participate in the response to disease introductions such as the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Source: umn.edu
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Minnesota, Livestock, Poultry