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College of Veterinary Medicine

About the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) supports Indiana veterinarians, animal health officials, livestock producers, and animal owners in protecting the health of the animal population by providing prompt, accurate, and reliable diagnoses of animal diseases, including those that may affect the human population. The Willie M. Reed laboratory is in West Lafayette on the Purdue campus, and the Dennis H. Heeke laboratory is in Dubois County at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center. The ADDL is fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and serves as the official diagnostic laboratory for the State of Indiana. 

Through our extensive engagement mission, the ADDL serves as a member of the USDA National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and the FDA CVM Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (VETLIRN). The ADDL also serves a critical role in supporting the College of Veterinary Medicine teaching programs directed toward professional students, veterinary technology students, and graduate students and residents.

Mission

Provide reliable, innovative, and vigilant services to veterinarians, animal producers, and regulatory agencies.

Vision

To be Indiana’s “go-to lab” for diagnostics and surveillance testing for all production animals, companion animals, and wildlife species.

Values: Integrity, Trust, and Collaboration

With a skilled and dedicated workforce delivering services that meet all current standards, the ADDL plays an integral role in animal health by coordinating diagnostic strategies and delivering timely test results to partners in multiple veterinary medicine sectors.

Strategic Deliverables

  • Ensure food security for all Indiana citizens by protecting the state's $4 billion-plus animal-ag sector.
  • Engage and support the growing equine and companion animal sectors of Indiana.
  • Enhance the retention of current animal agriculture and animal health businesses while attracting new animal-sector employers to Indiana.

Strategic Priorities

  • Foster a world-class service culture. Prioritize test quality, speed (responsiveness and turnaround), and value to the client when delivering all ADDL operations and diagnostic processes.
  • Deliver species/client-centric service strategies. Develop and provide the full spectrum of diagnostic tests, customized for each primary animal sector: Aquatic, Companion Animal, Equine, Poultry, Ruminant, Swine, and Wildlife.
  • Provide accurate and prompt Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) surveillance and response. Implement an effective and efficient ADDL FAD plan and collaborate with state and national leadership FAD response planning.
  • Be a trusted animal-health resource. Create a science-based knowledge hub for animal professionals in Indiana, and provide practical training to veterinarians and Purdue Veterinary Medicine students.
  • Implement agile and innovative management strategies. Implement a phased transition to in-house management of expenses to an agreed annual budget while optimizing investments, expenses, operations, digital technologies, marketing, and personnel policies to deliver the laboratory's mission and vision.
  • Invest in a highly-skilled workforce and provide a stimulating and rewarding work environment. Attract, develop, retain, and create promotion opportunities for the laboratory's skilled and dedicated employees.
  • Invest in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Formulate capital budget plans to upgrade facilities and operate as a NAHLN Level-1 laboratory (including Biosafety Level 3 confinement areas) and play a prominent role in national programs.