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

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.