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CORVALLIS - The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University has been designated a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network - a consortium pushed to the forefront of the nation's facilities dedicated to homeland security.

"The National Animal Health Laboratory Network incorporates federal, state, and local resources in a response to animal health emergencies, including foreign animal diseases, emerging diseases, and bioterrorist events," said Dr. Jerry Heidel, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

The network is composed of publicly supported veterinary laboratories that received federal approval and financial support to conduct diagnostic testing for exotic animal diseases in support of the nation's agriculture biosecurity and public health programs.

The designation represents the culmination of extensive, cooperative efforts by the college; Dr. Don Hansen, Oregon's State Veterinarian; and Dr. Don Herriott, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Area Veterinarian in Charge, Heidel said.

The network was started in 2002 in response to concerns about safeguarding the health of livestock, poultry, companion animals, and wildlife, and protecting the public from disease agents that can infect both animals and humans.

Twelve public animal health laboratories were designated as pilot laboratories, dispersed geographically across the United States. Each of these facilities received federal funding through the USDA to upgrade facilities and diagnostic capabilities, with a focus on exotic diseases and agents such as West Nile Virus and Newcastle disease that affect animals and humans.

"The goal has been to expand this system to include laboratories in each of the states, and to assure the necessary stable funding from Congress to sustain the laboratory network," Heidel said. "Since then, additional animal health laboratories have achieved diagnostic proficiency for selected exotic animal diseases, and have implemented cooperative response plans with their state agriculture regulatory agencies."

Through these efforts, several other laboratories, including the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, have now received the National Animal Health Laboratory Network designation, Heidel said.

While the federal funding needed to allow substantial upgrades to these laboratories has not yet materialized, smaller allocations are being made. The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will shortly be receiving funds earmarked for enhancement of the laboratory's information technology, to allow secure and direct communication with other network members.

"This designation is evidence of the quality of service provided by the laboratory, and the record of cooperation between the laboratory and Oregon's state and federal veterinarians," said Dr. Howard Gelberg, OSU's Lois Bates Acheson Dean of Veterinary Medicine.

"The communications and proficiency fostered by the participation of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network will benefit animal industries and public health in Oregon," Gelberg said.