National Plant and Animal
Diagnostic Laboratory Networks
The safety of our plant and animal production
systems depends on our ability to rapidly
identify foreign pathogens and other pests,
whether introduced intentionally through
bio-terrorism or unintentionally. To this
end, CSREES has established two national
networks of existing diagnostic laboratories
to rapidly and accurately detect and report
pathogens of national interest and provide
timely information and training to state
university diagnostic labs.
Kitty Cardwell, national program leader
for plant pathology, and Robert Smith, national
program leader for homeland security, helped
to organize these efforts.
The National Plant Diagnostic Network is
led by five regional labs (Cornell University,
University of Florida, Michigan State University,
Kansas State University, and the University
of California-Davis) and one support lab
(Texas Tech University).
The National Animal Health Laboratory Network
is led by five core labs (University of Georgia,
Texas A&M University, the University
of California-Davis, University of Wisconsin,
and Colorado State University), seven satellite
labs (Cornell University, Rollins Laboratory
in North Carolina, Louisiana State University,
Florida Diagnostic Laboratory, University
of Arizona, Washington State University,
and Iowa State University), and one support
lab (Oklahoma State University).
These facilities will help to link growers,
field consultants, and other university diagnostic
labs to coordinate regional detection and
provide inter-regional communication in the
event of an invasive species outbreak.
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