Rapid, accurate diagnostic information is critical when disease threatens the world’s animal food chain. Management challenges faced by farm operators, food processors and their veterinary consultants often involve economic losses, animal welfare, food quality / safety and ecological impact. Many farm animal problems could be better managed or mitigated with more effective technology commonly used in human medicine, modified for farm applications.
Advanced Animal Diagnostics (AAD) is a privately funded and innovative R&D company that will bring high-quality 21st century point-of-care diagnostic tests to the under-served valuable farm animal industry, including dairy cows, goats, sheep, swine, cattle and horses. The company, located in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, has developed rapid methods for detecting presence and stage of various infections by examining the animal’s own immune response to the exposure.
AAD’s activities at the 2008 AABP (Bovine Practitioners) Conference featured commercial introduction of a research version (Quick Smear™ DUO Slide), of AAD’s patented technology designed for use by academic and industrial researchers enabling visualization and quantification of cells in body fluids, including specific leukocytes (white blood cells) involved in mammalian immune responses. Independent research studies, using the slides, are expected to increase provide further validation of the method and identify additional applications for the technology.
The company’s first farm-site product, a test of fresh cow’s milk to detect mastitis infection (SCC+™ Mastitis Test System) is expected to be commercialized in 2010. Mastitis, infection of a milk-producing mammary gland, is the most costly medical condition affecting milking cows, causing over $10 billion in economic losses to the $125 billion global dairy industry, annually.
Beyond the current focus on the largest medical / economic problem in dairies, AAD management has the requisite skill, experience and diagnostic industry relationships to bring forth many additional solutions to animal health and food quality issues.
