About Us
The Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories (VDL) holds laboratory accreditation from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). The laboratory is a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) member in Good Standing, a member of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), and a member of FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN). Our Rocky Ford laboratory is also a member of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN).
Laboratories at the VDL
Avian Diagnostics
Our avian diagnostics section provides a wide array of avian disease diagnostic services, including avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus testing, virus isolation in embyronated eggs and Salmonella Enteritidis culture, and real-time PCR.
Bacteriology
Bacteriologists isolate and identify bacterial and fungal pathogens. Specimens may be taken at necropsy or from live animals.
BSL3
Our facilities include a biosafety level 3 laboratory where we test for foreign, emerging and zoonotic diseases that require increased laboratory biosafety.
Chemistry/Toxicology
The chemistry/toxicology section offers veterinarians, researchers and animal owners a variety of chemical analyses which aid in the determination of an animal’s nutritional status, the measurement of therapeutic drug concentrations, and the diagnosis of environmentally-linked toxicoses.
Clinical Immunology
The mission of the Clinical Immunology Laboratory is to aid veterinarians in the accurate diagnosis of hematologic malignancies, and to further our understanding of these diseases in canine and feline patients.
Histopathology
Our histopathology laboratory provides analysis of tissues sent in from field necropsies.
Immunohistochemistry
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a unique method which allows for the identification of antigens in tissues.
Molecular Diagnostics
Our advanced techniques allow for both rapid and highly sensitive detection of nucleic acids to aid in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. These techniques have the advantage of requiring only small amounts of a diverse spectrum of biological sample types.
Parasitology
The parasitology section of the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory provides full-service, diagnostic support for the detection of parasitic infections in domestic and wild animals.
Pathology
Pathology includes both necropsy and biopsy. Our goal is to diagnose animal disease and discover the processes and agents causing disease.
Specialized Infectious Disease
This laboratory is part of the Center for Companion Animal Studies, which works to foster interactions between clinical specialists, translational researchers, and basic researches in companion animal studies. Their goal is to improve quality of life for animals and indirectly improve human health through interactions with their companion animals.
TSE
Our TSE section specializes in diagnostics for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies.
Virology
Our virology section analyzes biological specimens to identify the presence of viruses or serologic evidence of exposure to viral agents.
Branch Laboratories
Rocky Ford
Our Rocky Ford Branch Lab provides a wide variety of veterinary testing services, including tests on all species small or large. We provide many of the same services as our main laboratory.
Western Slope
The Western Slope Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WSVDL) is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. We provide laboratory services in animal disease diagnostic testing for the veterinarians and animal owners of Colorado's Western Slope and the surrounding areas.
