Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Granted Full Accreditation Again

BATON ROUGE—The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) Accreditation Site Visit Committee completed its audit of the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) in September 2019, and the AAVLD granted LADDL full accreditation through December 31, 2024.

The purpose of the AAVLD accreditation program is to accredit public veterinary diagnostic laboratories in North America relative to technical and operational competence compatible with appropriate standards and to provide administrative assessment. It attests that a laboratory provides quality services with a quality management system consistent with the high standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Requirements for Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. Full accreditation is granted for a maximum of five years, after which re-assessment is required. LADDL has been accredited by the AAVLD since 2008, and is one of the 37 AAVLD accredited diagnostic laboratories in North America and the only AAVLD-accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Louisiana. 

LADDL is affiliated with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU SVM) and provides diagnostic services to the producers, animal owners, LSU veterinary teaching hospital (LSU VTH), and other veterinary practices in Louisiana and surrounding states. Furthermore, LADDL works with state and federal animal and public health officials to safeguard animal and human health (One Health) in Louisiana. LADDL faculty and staff conduct necessary research for the continued enhancement of the following outreach services: research development and adaptation of diagnostic tests and protocols, research and investigation of livestock and companion animal diseases impacting the health and well being of the animals and citizens of Louisiana, and research on selective diseases impacting the economics of the animal industries in Louisiana. LADDL also provides support for the teaching and research programs of the LSU SVM to help train tomorrow’s veterinarians and scientists and provide diagnostic services to the state and the nation. LADDL faculty participate in the DVM curriculum, graduate programs and offer two residency programs in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. LADDL operates in partnership with Louisiana State University, the LSU SVM, Louisiana veterinarians, livestock and poultry producers, and government and state organizations.