Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) was established in 1999 by Wisconsin Act 107 (1999 Senate Bill 358) which was enacted on 28 April 2000. With that Act, effective July 1, 2000, the Wisconsin Animal Health Laboratory was transferred from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to the University of Wisconsin System and renamed the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. This change occurred through the collaborative efforts of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA), the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the State of Wisconsin. Continued support from the State and UW campus, along with increasing demand for diagnostics with exceptional quality, led to the design and construction of a new laboratory on the UW-Madison Campus. The current state-of-the-art facility on Easterday Lane opened its doors in 2006. As part of the University of Wisconsin, the WVDL has continued to grow and currently employs approximately 75 people. In 2002, the laboratory became a core laboratory in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) of the USDA. This designation permits the laboratory to be a full partner to state and federal agencies in protecting animal agriculture. We pride ourselves on our customer service, dedication, and forward thinking. Many members of our doctoral staff have national reputations for being leaders in their field. As part of the Wisconsin Idea, we also continually strive to be global leaders in the field of diagnostic testing and have established reputations for excellence in testing for the dairy and bull stud industries as well as emerging infectious diseases such as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The Barron Laboratory continues to be an important part of the National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP) through its service to the poultry industry.