About Us

The Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories plays a major role in a statewide, national, and global animal and zoonotic disease surveillance system that seeks to protect the health of livestock, companion animals, and the general public.

As part of state and federal surveillance programs, the laboratory is a member of the Laboratory Response Network Partners in Preparedness, and works in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control.

The laboratory assists the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture with surveillance for a number of high-profile agents, including coronavirus, avian influenza virus, chronic wasting disease, and mad cow disease.

The CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

women processing samples under fume hood

Facilities

The Colorado State University Diagnostic Medicine Center is home to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, with 90,000 square feet of space dedicated to diagnostic services, clinical pathology, and disease surveillance. The facility includes sealed Biosafety Level 3 laboratories approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for handling highly infectious select agents.

News

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Colorado Sun: Bat infected with disease that could devastate Colorado’s ecosystem is found in Longmont

The sick bat appeared to be dehydrated with brittle wings and couldn’t fly when a wildlife rehabber collected it from the Longmont bike path Feb. 29, CPW said. CPW collected biological samples and submitted them for testing at Colorado State University, which confirmed the presence of white-nose fungus in the bat.

Rocky Ford diagnostic lab interruption of service

As of March 1 and until further notice, the Rocky Ford lab will not accept necropsy cases.

The Denver Post: Is it safe to go to the dog park? The latest on the mysterious dog illness.

In a news release Monday, Dr. Michael Lappin, an internal medicine specialist and director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at CSU, said it’s not clear why cases decreased but it could be related to pets spending less time in social situations with other dogs.

Fence Post: Canine respiratory illness cases down across Colorado; CSU continues to investigate fall spike

In Colorado, CSU experts have been working with partners across the state on multiple fronts to investigate the origin of last year’s elevated numbers, Dr. Michael Lappin said. Those efforts have included examining whether any of the previous spikes were the result of one of the 10 viruses or bacteria already known to cause canine respiratory disease, if any of those pathogens have changed or if there are any new causes.

Fox21: Dog respiratory illness cases down, cause under investigation

VIDEO: “The great news is that the number of cases being reported in Colorado has been dropping since our suspected peaks between August and December,” said Dr. Michael Lappin, an internal medicine specialist and director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at CSU. “Why that trend is occurring is unknown but may be related to our pets spending less time in social situations that might include ill dogs during the winter months.”

Colorado Public Radio: CSU researchers say canine respiratory illnesses have dropped since its fall peak as they continue to study its origins

“Why that trend is occurring is unknown but may be related to our pets spending less time in social situations that might include ill dogs during the winter months,” said Dr. Michael Lappin, an internal medicine specialist and director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at CSU.