For avian influenza the internal validation has been completed. This has included determination of detection limit, repeatability, intermediate reproducibility, relative diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, and the results were satisfactory. The external interlaboratory validation has also been completed and the WOAH report has been completed. However, even if the results of the complete validation of the VETPOD method to detect avian influenza viruses are promising with good results for internal validation, the current relative diagnostic sensitivity of the method (74%) and the field validation results (good detection at the flock level, but less at the level of pooled samples) highlight the need of improvement of the viral RNA extraction step to increase the sensitivity of the method for positive approval by WOAH and AI EU-reference laboratory.
For Salmonella, the internal validation has been completed successfully. Samples were consequently analysed by 10 external laboratories producing 14 sets of data according to both the reference method and the VETPOD system. The results were satisfactory as the sensitivity of the VETPOD was found to be 99.46% and the specificity was found to be 98.21%. These are well within the acceptability limits of the validation body NordVal. NordVal have subsequently approved VETPOD as an alternative method for detection of Salmonella in food and has issued a certificate for use in samples of fresh and processed poultry and red meats, as well as ready-to-eat meat products.
For Campylobacter, the internal validation study has been completed. However, despite a considerable amount of optimizing the VETPOD for detection of Campylobacter the results of the internal validation did not meet the criteria required by the validation body NordVal. Thus, there were no basis for proceeding to the external ring trial and consequently, the method will not obtain official recognition by NordVal in its present state.
In addition to the formal validation procedures required by WOAH and ISO the VETPOD system was also evaluated by end-users (private labs). The field evaluation for zoonotic pathogen detection for Salmonella using the VETPOD system showed that the system is easy to use. It is a very fast system compared to the classic microbiology approach. While the classic approach takes 72 hours to gain results the VETPOD system provides results within about one day which is a clear advantage.
Preparation for market uptake of the VETPOD system has been focused on market assessments for use and sales of the VETPOD system into the animal and food sector. Companies, associations, organizations and reference labs in Denmark, Italy, Germany, France and Sweden have been interviewed to assess market opportunities and how the VETPOD could be sold into EU countries.
