The new laboratory does not duplicate 
the services of State animal disease diag- 
nostic laboratories, but it does test or 
type unusual specimens for other labora- 
tories and will provide consultation serv- 
iges to the States. It also trains Federal 
disease eradication workers in diagnostic 
procedures. 
A team of disease detectives, or epi- 
demiologists, is being formed at the 
laboratory. These scientists serve the 
Federal government in emergencies by 
tracing outbreaks of infectious animal 
diseases to the source herd or flock, and 
by identifying exposed livestock. 
Central Services 
From the central services area flow 
all of the reusable laboratory supples 
needed by research workers. Between 
10,000 and 12,000 different items are 
stocked in its supply rooms. Glassware 
is available in every standard laboratory 
shape and size—from 1- by 3-inch micro- 
scope slides to petri dishes, to 12-gallon 
carboys. Rubber gloves, boots, coveralls, 
and lab jackets are also distributed by 
central services. 
After soiled supphes have been decon- 
taminated in autoclaves, they are 
brought to the central services area for 
cleaning. Glassware is washed in a 
mechanical dishwasher that can be used 
continuously. Loading racks emerge 
with chemically clean glassware. Next, 
racks are moved to one of the large ovens 
for sterilization. Teams of workers in- 
spect each piece of glass for breakage, 
eracks, and spots; then it is stored until 
needed. 
Lab jackets, coveralls, and other cloth- 
ing used by research and regulatory 
workers in the laboratories are washed 
and ironed in the central 
laundry. 
services 
N—40809 
Delivering media by autoclave from central services to 
pilot plant. 
The media rooms supply scientists 
with various types of cultural media and 
solutions on order. 
Isolation Laboratories 
The animal isolation laboratories— 
known as buildings 3 and 4—are designed 
to provide maximum protection for the 
scientists as well as the residents and 
livestock of the area that surrounds the 
Federal center. 
Each of the two cross-shaped buildings 
is completely separate. Inside each 
building are eight isolated wing zones, 
or research units, where specific animal 
diseases are studied. Air locks, dressing 
room-shower entrances, and other safety 
devices are used to seal each wing zone 
away from the others in the same build- 
ing. (See eight isolation wing zones, p. 
12.) This isolation permits scientists to 
eonduct research on highly infectious 
11 
