Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) at Cornell University is among one of the most comprehensiveveterinary diagnostic laboratories in the United States, receiving over 150,000 sample submissions per yearthat generates over 1 million individual tests a year. The analytical toxicology section of the AHDC is run byboard certified toxicologists teamed with experienced analytical chemists and utilizes advanced analyticalequipment and techniques for the detection, identification, and quantification of organic, inorganic and toxiccompounds that are of concern to animal health. Since its inception and joining of Veterinary LaboratoryResponse Network (Vet-LRN; approval letter 2011-attached), the analytical toxicology section of AHDC hasbeen playing an active role in investigations of pet food contamination outbreaks and simultaneouslydeveloping appropriate methods to assist in such investigations. AHDC analytical toxicology section isenthusiastic about being involved in the following three key project areas that are aligned with the mission ofVet-LRN: 1) participation in the FDA/Vet-LRN sample analysis, 2) providing analytical data for potentialregulatory use, 3) participation in small-scale method development, method validation and matrix extensionwork as determined by the Vet-LRN Program Office. AHDC analytical toxicology section will be in closecommunication with Vet-LRN and cooperate in the mission of the program by responding to an event in caseswhere laboratory surge capacity is needed by the Vet-LRN and the FDA for analyses related to chemicalcontamination, either through intentional or unintentional means.
This cooperative agreement will facilitate Analytical Toxicology Section of Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University to prepare for and assist FDA in the event of a large-scale outbreak or threat incident of animal feed contamination. As a member of the Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (Vet-LRN), analytical toxicology section of AHDC is determined to provide expertise and capabilities of the laboratory to detect adulterated feed/drugs for livestock that may be consumed ultimately by humans, or for companion animals that may also lead to the prediction/prevention of sickness outbreaks before spread to other animals and/or humans.
