# Viral Testing Core

> **NIH NIH U42** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $226,943

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract - Viral Testing Core
Continuous, accurate surveillance for agents of concern is an essential requirement for maintenance of a SPF
breeding colony. In 2009 we transitioned from testing at off-site laboratories to performing all screening assays
at the Tulane National Primate Research Center’s (TNPRC) Pathogen Detection and Quantification Core
(PDQC). The PDQC is administratively located in the Division of Microbiology and was established at the TNPRC
in 2004. The primary mission of the PDQC is to provide diagnostic services to the Division of Veterinary Medicine
for establishing and maintaining SPF nonhuman primate colonies. A secondary mission is to provide research
support to investigators. The development of onsite viral testing capabilities has resulted in reduced costs,
eliminated shipping of samples, reduced turnaround time, and provided a platform for easy expansion for
detection of additional agents. Quality assurance of the TNPRC SPF surveillance program is supported by the
participation of the PDQC in proficiency panels testing from the Pathogen Detection Working Group (PDWG) of
the NIH Nonhuman Primate Research Consortium (NHPRC) and the External Quality Assurance Program
Oversight Laboratory (EQAPOL) Luminex program. This section of the application focuses on the function of the
Viral Testing Core, techniques used for identification and detection of the target viruses, assay performance and
validation, and current and future expansion of testing capabilities.
The Aim of this core is to assure the SPF status of the colony through continued viral testing of existing breeding
colony animals and all offspring. The SPF4 colony will be tested a minimum of twice each year for all four target
viruses: Type D simian retrovirus (SRV), simian T-lymphotropic virus (STLV), simian immunodeficiency virus
(SIV), and herpes B virus (BV) for SPF4. Characterization of the colony beyond the targeted agents supported
by the U42 grant will continue through the development and use of additional assays for other pathogens of
potential interest.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10158634
- **Project number:** 2U42OD010568-19
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Carolina Allers
- **Activity code:** U42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $226,943
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2001-08-09 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10158634

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10158634, Viral Testing Core (2U42OD010568-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10158634. Licensed CC0.

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