National Point-of-Care (POC) Assay Use-Case Matrix

The Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD) was awarded funding through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services to support critical efforts aimed at strengthening Animal Health Emergency Response across the United States.

Principal Investigator Julie Stowell‑Moss, M.Ed., PMP, is leading an initiative to develop a national Point‑of‑Care (POC) Assay Use‑Case Matrix for Incident Command Systems during Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) outbreaks. This innovative tool will help State Animal Health Officials (SAHOs) make evidence‑based decisions about when and how to deploy POC assays—ultimately improving emergency response efficiency and resource allocation.

Project Highlights

The project includes:

• Reviewing and recommending POC assays for licensing
• Conducting a tabletop exercise with industry and veterinary experts
• Developing a decision matrix and position statement, including an economic impact analysis

Expected Impact

The outcome of this work will be clear, standardized guidance that:

• Protects U.S. livestock
• Supports SAHOs in outbreak response decision‑making
• Safeguards American consumers and the U.S. food supply

This effort is strengthened through collaboration with U.S. and international experts, including The University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, advancing shared goals in animal health preparedness.