Colorado State University has begun building a new Diagnostic Medicine Center south of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

The $42 million center will house the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Clinical Pathology Laboratory, and Animal Population Health Institute. Construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility should be complete in December 2009.

The university's veterinary laboratory system was one of the earliest participants in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which combines the capacity of federal laboratories with the resources of state and university laboratories to enhance response to animal health emergencies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved CSU laboratories to test for exotic Newcastle disease, avian influenza, scrapie, chronic wasting disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, classical swine fever, and foot and mouth disease.

The CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Clinical Pathology Laboratory also provide services to owners of companion animals, owners of production animals, and state government agencies such as the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

The CSU Animal Population Health Institute promotes the exchange of information and expertise in veterinary epidemiology among scientists at the university, collaborating institutions, and government agencies throughout the world.

The Diagnostic Medicine Center also will house the veterinary extension office.