Michigan State University has opened recently the Diagnostic Centre for Population and Animal Health. The 152,000 square foot facility unites 10 MSU laboratories to make up the state's only comprehensive animal health diagnostic centre.

Part of the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, the facility serves as Michigan's official diagnostic laboratory, providing animal health services to the State Government, veterinarians, companion and farm animal owners, and state agencies across Michigan.

Biosafety level III containment facilities support the state's bovine tuberculosis eradication programme. The centre also contains BSL-3 microbiology laboratories to identify pathogens that threaten animal and human health, including West Nile virus and multi-drug-resistant Salmonella.

"Our new diagnostic centre will continue to meet the diagnostic needs of livestock, companion animal, and wildlife populations across Michigan," said MSU-CVM dean, Dr. Lonnie King.

"It will also play a new and expanded role to support the public's health related to zoonotic and emerging pathogens, as well as bio- and agroterrorist agents associated with homeland security," he added.

The number of tests conducted at the facility since its founding more than 30 years ago-known then as the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory-have risen from fewer than 9,000 its first year of operation to more than 1.2 million in 2003.

The facility serves as a learning centre for students in the veterinary college. It features laboratory and classroom space for teaching and for providing postgraduate education and research opportunities, the official release said.