# Building UI VDL COVID-19 test capacity: evaluating sample pooling for SARS-CoV-2 testing in animals

> **NIH FDA U18** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2022 · $56,820

## Abstract

Project Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can infect both human and animals. Population testing is one of important steps to contain
Covid-19 pandemic in humans, which will be also a right strategy in animal species. SARS-CoV-2
positive rates in animals in the US are under-estimated partially because animal testing needs state
official approval. Testing capabilities must be expanded to enable a large-scale surveillance in animals
when needed. Sample pooling has been proved a useful strategy to increase testing capacity and
reduce testing burden. In this proposal, we request funding to build testing capacity at the University of
Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UI VDL) to evaluate sample pooling to scale up testing for
SARS-CoV-2 and save testing resources. To determine the effect of pooling on test sensitivity, we will
evaluate two different pooling sizes for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing in the UI VDL. The positive samples
will be evaluated individually and together with negative samples. The same set of positive and negative
samples will be randomly pooled for simulation of clinical pooling testing. The validated pooling strategy
can be used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in different animal species. Therefore, the validated pooling
procedure will make UI VDL ready for responding to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation in animals.
The proposed study will scale up the capabilities of the Vet-LIRN laboratories to respond quickly to
Covid-19 outbreaks in animals, which will have tremendous impacts for both human and veterinary
health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10609623
- **Project number:** 1U18FD007727-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Leyi Wang
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $56,820
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10609623

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10609623, Building UI VDL COVID-19 test capacity: evaluating sample pooling for SARS-CoV-2 testing in animals (1U18FD007727-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10609623. Licensed CC0.

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