Project Workplan

The workplan has been divided into 9 workpackages. The principal objectives are to develop and apply improved diagnostic methods for pen-side and laboratory analysis. The Consortium will benefit from the results and stored materials obtained in the EU-multiplex project (QLK2-CT-2000-00486), as 5 out of 9 partners in this new proposal participated in the former project. The LAB-ON-SITE will focus both on the pen-side testing, where adequate methods are sparse; but also on improvement and validation of robust and sensitive tests for detection of virus or antibodies to virus. For confirmation of index cases of OIE List A diseases sensitive methods analysing not only blood samples but also animal products like meat juice or tissue materials are necessary. For the successful curtailment of an outbreak of disease the use of on-site methods such as dip-stick tests in the field or PCR methods performed on portable equipment in regional laboratories will assist the high throughput analysis performed in the Reference containment laboratories.

WP1	Establishment of a sample collection (sample-bank), representing OIE List A viruses.
WP2	Detection of OIE List A viruses by applying rapid, simplified PCR techniques.
WP3	Application of nucleic acid detection techniques without thermocycling (Invader and NASBA).
WP4	Development of novel nucleic acid detection methods, including padlock-probes and rapid readout formats.
WP5	Detection of OIE List A viruses with real-time PCR assays, including portable PCR and automated procedures.
WP6	Development and optimisation of simple and sensitive monoclonal antibody-based antigen-antibody assays.
WP7	Development of rapid methods for the on-site detection of viral antigens (Dip-stick tests).
WP8	Standardisation and validation of the new molecular and antigen-antibody diagnostic assays.
WP9	Transfer of knowledge to EU member and candidate countries, as well as to the third countries.