New lab will help Washington’s animal disease surveillance

Washington State University has opened a new laboratory dedicated to animal disease surveillance.

The 61,000-square-foot Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory will support the state’s early disease detection efforts, with the goal of protecting public health and food security in Washington’s $1.5 billion animal agriculture industry. It’s a step up from the previous 15,000-square-foot facility that housed the laboratory.

Since WADDL was established in 1974, testing demand has increased more than 250%, with 3 million tests conducted in the past 10 years, according to the announcement.

“The purpose of WADDL’s disease detection and surveillance activities is to improve animal health and human health through detection of animal pathogens that can be transmitted to humans, food safety, and to promote interstate commerce and global trade for animal agriculture,” said Tim Baszler, the laboratory’s executive director.

The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is a core founding laboratory in the USDA National Animal Health Laboratory Network, helping detect biological threats to animal agriculture and public health.