The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is celebrating a pair of milestones. In its 50th year of operation, TVMDL celebrated the grand opening of a new, 93,000 square-foot laboratory and agency headquarters in College Station April 19.

The new laboratory is one of the largest of its kind in the country, according to TVMDL, and will allow the agency to continue to provide high quality diagnostic testing for both common and rare disease agents in animal species from across the globe.

“While our original facility supported our agency’s efforts for 50 years, many advancements in biosafety, biosecurity, technology and science, as well as operational growth, necessitated the new facility,” Bruce L. Akey, TVMDL director, said.

TVMDL’s new facility includes open plan, integrated laboratory space to allow improved collaborations across diagnostic disciplines. It contains a full-service necropsy suite and a series of Biosafety Level 3 laboratories.

The $53 million to build the new laboratory and agency headquarters was appropriated by the Texas Legislature in May 2013.

More than 100 people are employed at the College Station laboratory, which is located at 483 Agronomy Road.

TVMDL was created in 1967 by the Texas Legislature to serve the livestock industries in Texas. The agency helps protect animal and human health through diagnostics by working with veterinarians and animal owners to identify, treat and prevent animal disease agents.

TVMDL conducts more than 800,000 tests annually for disease agents. It is the backbone of the state’s animal disease surveillance system.

“While animal and public health and food safety remain the core of our mission, just as it was 50 years ago, this agency will lead the way into the future of veterinary diagnostics,” Akey said.

The agency is celebrating its golden anniversary all year long. A list of events can be found on TVMDL’s 50th Anniversary page: http://agrilife.org/tvmdl50/.