DARO Surveillance Detects Swine Virus Four Days Earlier
The Lincoln-based startup is scaling its lab capacity to help U.S. producers manage disease spread through environmental biosurveillance.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Startups
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Lincoln-based startup DARO is using environmental surveillance to detect porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in nursery barns. A study found the company's method detects the virus an average of 3.91 days earlier than conventional oral-fluid testing.
Why it matters
Earlier pathogen detection allows producers to implement biosecurity measures and manage animal movements before viruses spread through a facility. This approach could improve disease control across the U.S. swine industry.
A study across 11 nursery rooms demonstrated that DARO's surveillance consistently identified PRRSV 3.91 days sooner than standard oral-fluid diagnostic tests. The reliability of this detection window is currently under investigation for larger industrial applications.
The players
DARO
A Lincoln-based startup developing environmental biosurveillance technology for the agricultural industry.
The Combine
An incubator focused on supporting early-stage agricultural technology startups.
The details
DARO's environmental surveillance works by having barn employees wear specialized shoe covers while walking through animal pens to collect biological material from the environment. These samples are then processed at a centralized laboratory using molecular testing, which identifies viral presence before symptomatic outbreaks typically appear in the herd. This method provides an alternative to traditional oral-fluid testing, which requires direct interaction with the animals.
Timeline
Early 2024: DARO began establishing its Lincoln laboratory.
September 2026: The company announced a $2.5 million funding round.
The Tech Race
DARO's biosurveillance system challenges the standard reliance on oral-fluid testing for detecting respiratory pathogens in livestock. By shifting toward environmental collection, the firm seeks to establish a faster diagnostic baseline for the U.S. swine industry.
The firm is currently using its $2.5 million funding to expand lab capacity and enhance its surveillance platform. Broad adoption will depend on how effectively the company scales its laboratory operations to support larger commercial swine facilities across the U.S.
The takeaway
DARO provides a potential method for reducing viral spread in nursery barns by leveraging environmental sampling. Interested producers should monitor the company's progress as it works to scale its lab capacity following its recent September 2026 funding round.
Further reading
For broader trends in agricultural innovation, explore more startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by National Hog Farmer.
Live Poll
Do you trust new surveillance technologies to improve livestock health management in the U.S. swine industry?
