Vet-LIRN Cooperative Agreement Program to Expand and Validate Testing Methods for Food Contaminants in Animal Diagnostic Specimens (U18)

FDA developed the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet- LIRN, formerly Vet-LRN) to increase the safety of human and animal health by investigating potential adverse events involving animal feed or animal drug contamination or adulteration. The testing of diagnostic specimens adds insight into investigations not routinely obtained from traditional food testing laboratories. Such investigations require detection methods that are validated for organs and diagnostic samples such as urine and feces, which are not typical food matrices. It is the purpose of this program to expand and validate detection methods among cooperative agreement laboratories. This activity is designed to increase the suite of validated methods available for testing during outbreaks or events. It is also designed to strengthen the collaborations and integration of the network laboratories to encourage seamless interactions during actual emergency related testing. Eligibility is limited to only Vet-LIRN network laboratories.