The Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core is housed within the Division of Microbiology.
Maintenance of SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) status in macaque breeding colonies requires routine and accurate surveillance for the presence of infectious pathogens to maintain the health of the animals and reduce the risk of transmission. All viral screening assays for the Tulane National Primate Research Center SPF breeding colony are currently being performed in the Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core.
The Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core is comprised of two units; the Diagnostics Unit primarily performs serological surveillance testing for infections with SPF agents or other pathogens. The RT-PCR Unit performs nucleic acid detection methods, e.g. PCR, for detection of SPF viruses.
Quality Assurance
Since 2019, the Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core (PDQC) at the TNPRC has been enrolled in the External Quality Assurance Proficiency Oversight Laboratory (EQAPOL) Luminex program, part of Duke Human Vaccine Institute’s External Quality Assurance Program, for assessment of proficiency of NIAID/DAIDS-supported and other interested research laboratories performing bead-based Luminex assays.
For each external proficiency (EP) round, Luminex program participants receive 21 blinded test samples containing five cytokines at varying known concentrations. Sites were required to assay these samples for the five cytokines using the Luminex bead-based of their choice and report their results. Results from all laboratories are evaluated for timeliness, protocol adherence, accuracy, and precision based on consensus standards.
The PDQC participated in the most recent EP round this year and the results were evaluated as excellent, receiving a score of 95.40 out of a maximum of 100, which was superior to the average overall performance score of 84.3 out of a possible 100 points. This evaluation validates the high quality and reproducibility of the tests performed by the PDQC on the Luminex xMAP platform.
Contact
Carolina Allers, Director of the Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core
Mary Barnes, Lab Supervisor of the Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core
Acknowledgments
When utilizing research resources made possible by the TNPRC Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core, please cite RRID:SCR_024614. For additional information on acknowledging Tulane National Primate Research Center resources, please see here.
