Certified Swine Sample Collector training program

Once a foreign animal disease (FAD) has been detected in the US swine herd, the primary response goals will be to detect, control, and contain the FAD as quickly as possible by using surveillance and diagnostics. Enhanced biosecurity and increased sample collection quantity and frequency will make it difficult or impossible for the few FAD diagnosticians and swine-focused veterinarians to efficiently collect samples and perform diagnostic investigations for the large number of swine farms involved in a timely way. This high demand for sample collection creates a bottleneck in the response process. An inadequate disease response inflicts great harm on the industry long-term, negatively impacts animal welfare, jeopardizes livelihoods, threatens food security for consumers, and significantly hinders the US economy.

With funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians collaborated with the Center for Food Security and Public Health and Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University, the National Pork Board, and the Multistate Partnership for Security in Agriculture to develop the Certified Swine Sample Collector (CSSC) training program. The CSSC training program aims to increase capacity by allowing the current on-farm labor force to be a critical asset during an FAD response and assist in critical diagnostic sample collection and submission. The new program also assures state and federal animal health officials that producers and caretakers have been trained prior to an outbreak through a standardized process to correctly collect, handle, and submit samples.

For USDA Category II accredited veterinarians with swine experience who wish to train individuals to become CSSCs, the first step is to contact the State Animal Health Officials (SAHO) in the state(s) where they plan to train or use CSSCs to confirm their eligibility to participate in the program and any additional requirements that exist. In addition to being a USDA Category II accredited veterinarian, trainers must:

• have a business relationship with the owner of the pigs on farms where individuals are trained or
• perform training by request of the site’s Category II accredited veterinarian under whose direction the collectors will be submitting samples.Trainers can conduct trainings in any state regardless of where they are accredited. However, the veterinarian under whom the samples are submitted is required to be licensed and accredited in the state where the samples are collected.

The next step is to access the training materials at securepork.org/training-materials/disease-monitoring-sample. Here you will find handouts and videos for each sample collection type in both English and Spanish. To become a CSSC, trainees must be approved by a Category II accredited veterinarian with swine experience, have a valid Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification, and complete the CSSC curriculum. The curriculum includes classroom instruction, a written exam, and hands-on training. Through the program, CSSCs are trained to recognize clinical signs associated with African swine fever, classical swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease; use good biosecurity practices; and correctly collect, package, and ship diagnostic samples.

There are two tiers of diagnostic sample types a CSSC may become trained to collect.

• Tier 1 sample types include blood, blood swab, oral fluid, nasal swab, and processing fluid.
• Tier 2 sample types include all the sample types from Tier 1 and tonsil, spleen, lymph node, tracheal swab, and vesicular fluid.

Once the classroom training is complete, an individual passes the written exam, and the individual successfully completes the hands-on evaluation demonstrating competency, certification stays with the individual even if they change employment or move to a different state. A CSSC can collect samples:

• from any swine operation as requested by the Category II accredited veterinarian under whom the samples will be submitted.
• from more than one state if the Category II accredited veterinarian they are submitting samples under is licensed and accredited in the state where the samples are collected.
• for multiple Category II accredited veterinarians.

ategory II accredited veterinarians who perform the training will be required to record and retain the information of trained individuals and share this information with the SAHO in the state where the individual will be collecting samples. Certification in the program is valid for 1 year with recertification required annually. Immediate recertification is required if a veterinary diagnostic lab informs the USDA Category II accredited veterinarian that submitted samples are deemed unacceptable. To become recertified, the CSSC must demonstrate competency collecting samples as determined by their trainer. Recertifying individuals must also receive training on any new sample collection types added to the curriculum to maintain their certification. Category II accredited veterinarians are encouraged to work with their SAHO to make sure the list of CSSCs is routinely updated.

During an FAD outbreak, SAHOs determine when CSSCs will be allowed to collect samples in their state and where the samples will be sent for testing. Training candidates prior to an outbreak and maintaining their sample collection proficiency on a continual basis ensures they are prepared to respond as an outbreak unfolds. Ultimately, building capacity for diagnostic sample collection will result in a more efficient response to an FAD outbreak.

Sherrie Webb, MSc
Director of Swine Welfare