Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Mission
The mission of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is to aid and educate the animal industries of Texas in identifying and preventing animal diseases, nutritional deficiencies and intoxications so as to make productive use of the state’s natural resources, and to help protect the health of its citizens by identifying those diseases transmissible from animal to man. In addition, our mission is to facilitate the economic growth of our state by providing the necessary drug and residue tests for the pari-mutuel racing industry and health tests for national and international shipment of animals and their products.
Priorities and Goals
Priority 1
Develop and implement a comprehensive quality system across the TVMDL laboratories based on Office of International des Epizooties standards, ISO 17025 standards and compliant with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Essential Requirements for accreditation.
- Complete and distribute approved quality manual to all TVMDL
laboratories
Deadline: Completed - Train personnel in each laboratory in ISO 17025
Deadline: Completed - Quality assurance policies completed
Deadline: September 15, 2005 - Standard operating procedures (SOPs), supporting documents and
records for all tests performed in TVMDL laboratories completed
and followed
Deadline: October 1, 2005 - Internal audit of quality system in all TVMDL laboratories
Deadline: November 1, 2005 - External audit of quality system in all TVMDL laboratories
Deadline: December 15, 2005 - Quality system executive committee review of external audit and
corrective action
Deadline: February 1, 2006
Priority 2
Improve capabilities and capacities for early response in identification (diagnosis) and reporting of high-consequence diseases (i.e. foreign animal diseases) such as foot and mouth disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza, classical swine fever, rinderpest and other diseases that may be intentionally or accidentally introduced into the food animal populations of Texas.
- Complete the requisition and installation of robotic sample handling
equipment for high-volume testing
Deadline: September 1, 2005
- Train TVMDL personnel on use of robotic equipment
Deadline: December 1, 2005 - Design, purchase and have operational a mobile diagnostic specimen
control unit
Deadline: December 1, 2005 - Pursue U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification of
TVMDL personnel for foreign animal disease testing protocols as
protocols and certification become available at the USDA Foreign
Animal Disease Laboratory, Plum Island, N.Y.
Deadline: August 1, 2006 (and future)
Priority 3
Information technology upgrades within the TVMDL facilities at Center and Gonzales. This initiative will standardize the record database utilized to store, report and invoice laboratory reports within all laboratories with in the system.
- Train personnel at the Center and Gonzales laboratories on the
implementation and utilization of Visulab Software. Training will
provide familiarization on the computer databases, records maintenance
capability, case reporting and accounting systems.
Deadline: October 1, 2005 - Complete the acquisition of computer hardware and high speed
data connections necessary to bring Visulab online
Deadline: November 1, 2005 - Install computer hardware, Visulab software and supporting software
into the Center laboratory
Deadline: November 15, 2005 - Beta test program for the Center laboratory
Deadline: December 1, 2005 - Install computer hardware, Visulab software and supporting software
into the Gonzales laboratory
Deadline: January 1, 2006 - Beta test program for the Gonzales laboratory
Deadline: January 15, 2006
Priority 4
Adapt a sample identification and tracking system for routine diagnostics based on the BAR CODE model for the High-Consequence Disease System.
- Evaluate current available technology
Deadline: November 15, 2007 - Select and purchase the most appropriate equipment that can be
standardized for all laboratories
Deadline: January 1, 2008 - Train personnel on system
Deadline: February 1, 2008 - Beta test system
Deadline: March 15, 2008 - System operational
Deadline: April 15, 2008
Commentary on Top Priorities
Quality System
TVMDL is dedicated to providing quality diagnostic services. The quality system being implemented is new and all-inclusive. It is adapted from the international standards from ISO 17015 and Office of International des Epizooties and is in compliance with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians’ essential requirements for accreditation. When fully implemented, this system will ensure test quality and training of employees within TVMDL.
Improving Capabilities and Capacities for Early Response in Diagnosing and Reporting High-Consequence Diseases
TVMDL was named one of five hub laboratories in the nation to form a National Animal Health Laboratory Network. The purpose of the network is to provide early diagnosis, testing and reporting of high-consequence diseases that could be intentionally introduced (agri-terrorism) or accidentally introduced into our animal population(s). We consider this an important new mission and significant to our national interest and security by protecting the state’s and nation’s food supply. We are in the process of equipping two new bio-safety level three laboratories and a mobile specimen processing unit. These facilities and efforts should place Texas in the national forefront in preparedness for dealing with major animal health emergency response.
Information Technology Upgrades within the TVMDL Commercial Poultry Laboratories at Center and Gonzales
These laboratories play a major role in the detection of poultry diseases in the state and the international marketing of Texas poultry products. This effort would bring their communications up to a standard and synchronize their reporting and accounting processes into the TVMDL information system.
Adapt a Sample Identification and Tracking System Based on Bar Coding
Adapt a sample identification and tracking system for routine diagnostic samples based on the bar coding model for high-consequence disease outbreaks. This system will greatly increase the efficiency of handling all samples received in our four laboratories.
Commentary on Other Topics
External Funding
TVMDL received no federal funding prior to July 2002, when it was named one of five state veterinary medical diagnostic laboratories in the nation to form the core of a National Animal Health Laboratory Network to provide capability and capacity for diagnosing and eliminating high-consequence foreign animal diseases that may be intentionally or accidentally introduced into the country. In 2002, TVMDL received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build and equip two bio-safety level 3 laboratories. The laboratories were completed in September 2004 and equipped by September 2005. Additionally, TVMDL received $300,000 from USDA in 2005 for continued operation of this program.
In 2005, TVMDL received $355,500 of ODP/Homeland Security funding. These funds are being used to purchase major equipment items such as robotic diagnostic platforms and a bio-safety level 3 specimen processing trailer.
Fiscal Stability
| $ in Thousands | State Appropriations |
Contracts, Gifts, Grants | Sales and Services | Investment Income | Totals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2000 | $4,336 | 46.41% | $55 | 0.59% | $4,947 | 52.95% | $4 | 0.04% | $9,342 | 100% |
| FY 2001 | $4,345 | 45.10% | $39 | 0.40% | $5,244 | 54.43% | $7 | 0.07% | $9,635 | 100% |
| FY 2002 | $6,709 | 54.40% | $48 | 0.39% | $5,555 | 45.04% | $21 | 0.17% | $12,333 | 100% |
| FY 2003 | $5,044 | 42.38% | $469 | 3.04% | $6,369 | 53.51% | $21 | 0.18% | $11,903 | 100% |
| FY 2004 | $5,364 | 39.20% | $1,315 | 9.61% | $6,971 | 50.95% | $33 | 0.24% | $13,683 | 100% |
TVMDL’s base funding for diagnostic services comes from two sources: state general revenue funds (46 percent to 48 percent) and fees for service (52 percent to 54 percent). The increase in total expenditures in FY 2002 was a reflection of state funds to replace the commercial poultry laboratory in Center. The increase in total expenditures in FY 2003 and FY 2004 was the result of improvements made with USDA/NAHLN funds to facilities and equipment in the College Station laboratory.
Operational Efficiencies
Two of the measures used by TVMDL to evaluate operational efficiencies
are case load (requests for service) and cases reported per FTE.
As Figures 2 and 3 indicate, the case load for TVMDL has continued
to increase although there has been no increase in FTEs (155), and
cases reported per FTE continue to be significantly above the national
average (1,350 compared to 850). TVMDL has a management-to-staff
ratio of 1:11.2.
