From June 9–13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Foreign Agricultural Service led diagnostic training in Managua, Nicaragua, for the national testing laboratories of Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.  This training is part of a long-term capacity building program under the Dominican Republic–Central America–United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA–DR).  It is aimed at strengthening national laboratories in operational and testing methods to meet U.S. and international standards.  This program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development in support of CAFTA–DR and by the USDA Emerging Markets Program. 

The participants were the laboratory technicians from all the CAFTA-DR countries that carry out this laboratory work. This training is part of a long-term capacity building program aimed to strengthen CAFTA-DR and National laboratories in operational and testing methods to meet U.S. and international standards.  Proficiency in disease diagnostics is vital in maintaining a functional animal health system, and ensures the application of internationally-recognized analytical methods and tests. 

The first two days were spent on proficiency testing and lectures on the test procedures. In addition, a one on one session was devoted to each group to explain and discuss their proficiency results. In this manner the participants have a thorough understanding of the test and its interpretation.