The Veterinary Research Laboratory building circa 1971.
The Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University has a rich history dating back to 1951 when the Veterinary Research Laboratory was established as part of the College of Agriculture. Initially a modest one-story brick building, it expanded in 1959 to include the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory with three small labs.
Over the years, the VDL grew significantly, adding various facilities and capabilities. By 1975, it included pathologists, a necropsy room, and bacteriology and histology labs. In 1981, the VDL moved to the newly completed Magruder Hall, further expanding its services to include virology, clinical pathology and more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the OVDL played a crucial role in public health efforts by performing more than 300,000 COVID-19 tests for Oregon State University's TRACE-COVID-19 surveillance project and for other sites from across the state.
Today, the OVDL continues to play a crucial role in One Health efforts supporting animal and human health.