THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ON PEI
Atlantic Veterinary College unveils new Foreign Animal Disease Testing Laboratory

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) has completed construction of its new Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) Testing Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility that will be instrumental in monitoring infectious diseases in the Atlantic provinces.

AVC clinical virologist Dr. Carmencita Yason inside the new Foreign Animal Disease testing laboratory

The first of its kind on PEI, the $1.9-million FAD laboratory strengthens biosecurity measures and ensures faster diagnostic capabilities for diseases such as African swine fever, classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, avian paramyxovirus 1, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds and other animal species. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) contributed $1.3 million in funding, and AVC invested an additional $600,000 for the cost of remodeling the suite to a suitable level of security.

"This new facility enhances our ability to safeguard animal health and protect the region's livestock and poultry industries," said Dr. Dominique Griffon, dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College. "We are grateful for ACOA's support in advancing our diagnostic capabilities, which will allow us to provide essential testing right here on Prince Edward Island."

"This facility allows us to be ahead of the emerging threats to our animal, environmental, and human health," said Dr. Carmencita Yason, clinical virologist at the AVC. "By strengthening our diagnostic infrastructure at the AVC, we can better serve the veterinary community, farmers, and food animal industries that rely on fast and accurate disease detection of foreign animal diseases."

The laboratory will be operational once it has been inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to certify the biocontainment required for FAD testing and been accredited as a Canadian Animal Surveillance Network (CAHSN) laboratory. The inspection is expected to be completed by May. The final phase of the lab requires purchasing dedicated equipment for foreign animal disease testing. Once the lab is functioning, veterinarians in PEI and the Atlantic region can refer cases requiring foreign animal disease testing to the AVC. During the initial stage of an FAD outbreak, the lab will send samples for confirmatory testing to the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease laboratory in Winnipeg. After confirming diagnosis, the FAD lab at AVC will continue to do the surveillance testing.