Laboratory Services 



LOOKING BACK IN LABORATORY 

 SERVICES 



In June 1955 a committee of scientists in- 

 spected Agricultural Research Service disease 

 laboratories in WashinRton, D.C., and at Belts- 

 ville, Md. ; Auburn, Ala. ; and Denver, Colo., 

 and reported that the laboratories were not 

 adequate to safeguard employees from expo- 

 sure to disease or the experimental work from 

 cross-contamination. Much of the laboratory 

 woik in research and regulatory fields at 

 Washington, Auburn, and Denver was discon- 

 tinued. Also, in 1955, laboratory programs 

 which had been performed by the Pathological 

 Division of the former Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry, were assigned to Animal Disease Erad- 

 ication in 1955. The.se laboi'atory programs 

 were placed under the staff position of Labora- 

 toi-y Services, which now has been enlarged to 

 a staff of 45. 



In addition to maintaining facilities in 

 Washington, D.C.. and at Beltsville, Md., and 

 Ames, Iowa, Laboratory Services maintains a 

 close working relationship wiih all diagnostic 

 laboratoi'ies in the United States and in many 

 foreign countries. There are 155 animal diag- 

 nostic laboratories in this country. Biological 

 cultures, reference materials, and direct assist- 

 ance are provided to these laboratories on 

 request. A Manual and Directory of Animal 

 Diagnostic Laboratories in the L'nited States 

 was completed in 1958 and distributed to field 

 stations, State animal diagnostic laboratories. 

 State livestock disease control officials, and 

 others interested in State-Federal programs. 



Diagnostic services for the detection of dis- 

 eases that might be introduced into the United 

 States are cooperatively administered with the 

 Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory. A 

 staff member is stationed at the Plum Island 

 Animal Disease Laboratory for this purpose 

 and to become experienced in recognizing ex- 

 otic animal diseases. 



Training for Division personnel at colleges 

 and universities is supervised by Laljoi-atory 

 Services. This includes approval of graduate 

 programs as well as supervision and guidance 

 given to individuals in such programs. 



Staff members of Laboratoi-y Services have 

 an opportunity to become experienced in many 

 fields related to the control and eradication of 

 animal diseases. The functions of the staff of- 

 fice are practical, and often provide the great 

 satisfaction of applying knowledge on a pilot 



ANIMAL DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES 

 JUNE 30. 1960 



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scale for disease eradication which has been 

 established only through many years of scien- 

 tific research. The staff office provides a corps 

 of technical personnel having a broad range 

 of experience with a wide variety of animal 

 di-seases. 



Division programs actively supported by 

 Laboratory Services are those for the eradica- 

 tion of brucellosis, tuberculosis, screwworms, 

 vesicular diseases, scabies, and scrapie. Lab- 

 oratory programs are also in progress to sup- 

 port activities in anaplasmosis, leptospirosis, 

 enzootic abortion of ewes, and enteric infec- 

 tions. 



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