REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO — When the new Ohio Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (OVDL) is completed it will provide Ohio’s livestock industry with access to the latest technology and scientific advancements. The laboratory will be housed in the Dr. Tony Forshey Animal Health Building

“This is an exciting day at the Ohio Department of Agriculture,” said Brian Baldridge, Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  “Our livestock industry and agriculture community has advocated tirelessly for this much-needed enhancement to the services we provide at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. We appreciate the support from the legislators and the administration for advocating for this cutting-edge technology as we continue to protect livestock and the citizens of this great state.”

The new facility has been funded through the Capital Budget signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine last summer allocating $72 million for the new lab.

Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, said the success of the project was the result of Ohio’s livestock producers working together, with support from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Sharp said the current facility is not meeting the needs of the state’s growers and producers. Because of this, a significant number of laboratory tests needed by Ohio farmers and businesses are sent to laboratories out of state.

For the livestock industry, the new facility means that test results will be available to producers much faster, according to Cheryl Day, vice president of the Ohio Pork Producers’ Council. Day said her producers are currently sending about 80 percent of the tests they submit out of state for testing.  

Scott Higgins, CEO of the Ohio Dairy Producers Association credits the Ohio Pork Producers Council for taking the lead on the new facility. But the pork producers couldn’t do it alone, and Higgins reached out to the dairy veterinarians in Ohio and they went to the legislature to stress the need for an updated testing facility.

For veterinarians and producers, it is vital to keep testing in the state. The state laboratory provides regulatory testing support for disease control programs and diagnostic laboratory services for veterinarians, livestock producers, and agribusinesses within and beyond Ohio. It conducts more than 452,000 tests a year, which breaks down to 1,738 tests a day, and 217 tests an hour.

The new facility is a 70,000-square-foot building that will include 40 percent more laboratory space and updated bio-security measures. The building is designed to be more energy-efficient will the flexibility to grow as demand for services increases. Construction on the building is set to begin in December, with an estimated completion date in 2026, according to Ken Phipps, project manager. 

“We ensured that the new Ohio Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory meets biosafety and biosecurity protocols, while implementing features that answer its specific needs,” said Phipps.” For example, the facility will include BSL-3 laboratories which can also function at a “step down” BSL-2 mode of operation. This as-needed containment level adds increased operational flexibility to the facility, which has historically supported the livestock and agriculture communities.”

Phipps said Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) decision  to replace its facility is emblematic of the challenge faced by similar institutions across the county. The original, 1960s-era facility continued to provide essential regulatory testing and diagnostic services at both the state and national level, but assessments revealed that it was not well-suited to accommodate growth.”

“As Ohio’s only laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), the role of the facility has only increased in importance as the agriculture industry has grown more complex and more global, said Phipps. ”Responding to these needs, ODA opted for a ground-up replacement.”

 The new facility features one cohesive laboratory zone across the building’s multiple levels. Vertical stacking enables vertical circulation — both elevator and stairs — to be located solely within the lab zone, meaning that once samples are received at the ground floor, they never leave the laboratory environment. The entry points to the lab zone, located at each Diagnostic Testing Station, are also carefully demarcated. Coupled with modern electronic access control devices, this strategy facilitates a dedicated entry/exit protocol to each lab section.

The new facility features safe and efficient methods to receive samples and engage clients, including a drive-through service facility, after-hours drop-off facility, dedicated secure client vehicle access, and vehicle/trailer decontamination facility. A dedicated client reception area is included, across from vehicle approach and parking. Phipps said these features will elevate the client experience without sacrificing biologically safe interactions.