Animal Health Diagnostic Center

As pet owners in New York, we understand that the health and well-being of our animal companions are paramount. When our furry, feathered, or scaled friends aren't feeling their best, getting an accurate diagnosis quickly is crucial for effective treatment. This is where a specialized veterinary diagnostic center becomes an invaluable resource. The Animal Health Diagnostic Center, located in Ithaca, NY, stands as a premier facility dedicated to precisely this – providing comprehensive and advanced diagnostic services to support veterinary care across the state and beyond. While it’s a journey from NYC, its unique capabilities make it a vital partner for veterinarians and, by extension, for us as pet owners seeking the most thorough answers for our pets' health concerns.

This center is not a typical local veterinary clinic where you take your pet for routine check-ups or vaccinations. Instead, it operates as a state-of-the-art laboratory, functioning as the diagnostic arm of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. It's where samples from veterinary practices throughout New York are sent for in-depth analysis, aiding veterinarians in identifying and understanding complex health issues. Think of it as the 'behind-the-scenes' powerhouse that equips our local vets with the detailed information they need to provide the best possible care.

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center is situated at 240 Farrier Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA, with the postal code 14853. While Ithaca might seem like a distance from the bustling streets of New York City, its role as a central diagnostic hub means samples are efficiently transported from veterinary clinics across the state. For New York residents, this means your local veterinarian, whether in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Upstate, can readily access the advanced testing capabilities offered here. They handle submissions from all 50 states and even 32 countries, showcasing their broad reach and importance in veterinary diagnostics. The center’s strategic location within the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine campus ensures it is a hub of cutting-edge research and expertise.

For veterinarians, samples can be shipped via courier services like FedEx or UPS to the physical address. While direct submissions from animal owners are rare and require prior approval, the critical point for New York pet owners is that your trusted local vet has a direct conduit to this advanced facility. This seamless connection allows for timely and accurate diagnostic results, regardless of where your pet is receiving primary care within the state.

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center provides an extensive array of diagnostic services, crucial for identifying and understanding a wide range of animal health conditions. Their offerings are incredibly diverse, catering to various animal types and diagnostic needs.

• Diagnostic Services: They offer a comprehensive suite of diagnostic tests, including specialized diagnostic plans and panels, and even STAT testing for urgent cases.
• Testing Laboratories: The center houses numerous specialized laboratories, each focusing on different areas of pathology and diagnostics. These include:
  • Anatomic Pathology
  • Bacteriology
  • Clinical Pathology
  • Comparative Coagulation
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Diagnostics
  • Parasitology
  • Serology & Immunology
  • Toxicology
  • Virology
  • Wildlife Health
• Veterinary Support Services (VSS): A dedicated team of experienced veterinarians is available to assist clients with test selection, interpretation of results, and guidance on disease prevention, surveillance, and control. This service is invaluable for referring veterinarians.
• Referral Laboratories and Tests: They facilitate specialized tests that may need to be outsourced to other expert laboratories, ensuring comprehensive diagnostic coverage.
• Programs: The center is involved in several key programs, including Avian Health, Duck Research Laboratory, NYS Cattle Health Assurance Program, NYS Contract Testing, and Quality Milk Production Services, highlighting their broad impact on animal health across various sectors.
• Veterinary Resources: They offer a wealth of resources for veterinary professionals, including testing guidelines, online databases like eClinPath, and expert consultations, helping practitioners stay current with the latest diagnostic information.

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center stands out due to several distinguishing features that make it a vital component of veterinary care in New York:

• State-of-the-Art Facility: Opened in 2010, the $70 million, three-story, 126,000-gsf facility is equipped with seven BSL-3 labs, BSL-2 labs, a necropsy facility capable of accommodating large animals, and advanced diagnostic suites. This infrastructure supports highly specialized and safe handling of diverse samples.
• Expert Team: The center boasts over 50 faculty, fellows, residents, and interns, alongside over 190 staff and student workers. This extensive team of specialists ensures a high level of expertise across all diagnostic areas, from anatomic pathology to virology.
• High Volume and Broad Reach: In 2024 alone, the center tested over 729,000 animals, serving all 50 U.S. states and 32 countries. This high volume indicates their efficiency and reliability in handling a vast array of diagnostic needs.
• Gold-Standard Testing: Many veterinarians consider the Animal Health Diagnostic Center to offer the "gold-standard" for numerous tests, indicating their reputation for accuracy and reliability in the field.
• Integrated with Cornell University: Being part of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, the center benefits from ongoing research, academic excellence, and a commitment to advancing veterinary medicine at the interface of discovery and application.
• Public Health Impact: As the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, they perform regulatory testing on behalf of state and federal agencies, playing a critical role in zoonotic disease monitoring, diagnosis, and control, which benefits both animal and human health.
• Accreditation: The center is accredited by The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AALVD) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for ISO/IEC 17025, ensuring adherence to rigorous quality standards in their testing procedures.

If your local veterinarian needs to get in touch with the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, here's their contact information:

• Address: 240 Farrier Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA (Postal Code: 14853)
• Phone: (607) 253-3900 (Main Line)
• Mobile Phone: +1 607-253-3900
• Email: [email protected]

Their business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (phones monitored until noon).

For New York pet owners, the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, though not a walk-in clinic, is an indispensable asset for ensuring the best possible health outcomes for our animals. Its suitability for locals lies in its role as the advanced diagnostic backbone for countless veterinary practices across the state. When your beloved dog, cat, or exotic pet faces a mysterious illness, or requires highly specialized testing that goes beyond the capabilities of a general veterinary office, it is facilities like the Animal Health Diagnostic Center that provide the crucial answers.

The center's commitment to high-quality testing, rapid turnaround times, and expert comprehensive consultation means that even if you're in a busy New York City borough, your local vet can leverage these world-class resources. The experienced team of veterinarians at the center offers tailored guidance to referring practitioners, ensuring that the results are not just numbers, but actionable insights for your pet's treatment plan. While a previous customer experienced an unfortunate situation with a specific test being unavailable, the general sentiment regarding their professionalism and helpfulness, as noted by another customer's positive interaction with Jonie, points to a dedicated team.

Knowing that New York has access to such a sophisticated and well-regarded diagnostic laboratory, deeply integrated with a top-tier veterinary college, provides immense peace of mind. It ensures that regardless of the complexity of your pet's condition, your veterinarian can consult with specialists and utilize cutting-edge technology to achieve an accurate diagnosis, ultimately leading to more effective and timely care for our cherished companions. The Animal Health Diagnostic Center truly plays a silent yet critical role in maintaining the health of New York’s animal population.

Animal Health Diagnostic Center

14853, 240 Farrier Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA