The Power of the Diagnostic Network

Jan Byrne, Matthew Cullen, and Sam Fieweger (NCPDN)
The Communicator: Volume 7, Issue 7, August 2026

Diagnosticians in the north central region (NCPDN) have monthly meetings where they share recent findings and discuss protocols, products, and options for further pursuing challenging samples.  These conversations support an active network and help further diagnostic work.

Sam Fieweger, a diagnostician with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), used the NPDN network to connect with a virologist for support in working through some challenging diagnostic samples. Electron microscopy and high-throughput sequencing done at the University of Minnesota, enabled the identification of the Cycas necrotic stunt virus (CNSV) in some symptomatic plant material.  Following that detection, the WI DATCP began using a PCR assay for detection of this virus and shared that information on an NCPDN call.   Matthew Cullen of the Missouri Department of Agriculture Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory (MDA-PPDL), another NCPDN lab, recently benefited from this shared information.  With information on the pathogen from Sam, the MDA-PPDL was able to detect CNSV in several peonies and take action to prevent further dissemination of the infected plant material.