Level-3 animal health lab reaches construction midpoint

Abbotsford, BC – The BC government says its new containment level 3 (CL3) lab has reached the midpoint of its construction.

Construction of the $14.5-million high-security lab began in December 2006, as an extension of the existing Animal Health Centre at the Abbotsford Agriculture Centre. It is expected to be completed by January 2008. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will then test all systems and commission the laboratory before it becomes operational, likely by mid-2008.

The Animal Health Centre is one of only two laboratories in Canada accredited as a full service Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), demonstrating adherence to quality control and quality assurance procedures.