United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 1853

National Veterinary Services Laboratories

USDA, APHIS, VS

P.O. Box 844 P.O. Box 848 

Ames, IA 50010 Greenport, NY 11944–0848 

Tel: (515) 337–7266 Tel: (631) 323–3256 

Fax: (515) 337–7397 Fax: (631) 323–3366 

E-mail: nvsl_concerns@aphis.usda.gov 

Web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/

lab_info_services 

Center for Veterinary Biologics

USDA, APHIS, VS

P.O. Box 844 

Ames, IA 50010 

Tel: (515) 337–7331 

Fax: (515) 337–7397 

E-mail: cvb@aphis.usda.gov

Web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/

vet_biologics 

Institute for International Cooperation in 

Animal Biologics

College of Veterinary Medicine 

Iowa State University

2160 College of Vet Med 

Ames, IA 50011 

Tel: (515) 294–1850 

Fax: (515) 294–8259 

E-mail: iicab@iastate.edu 

Web site: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/IICAB

OIE Web site: http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm

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Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 

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equal opportunity provider and employer.

Issued January 2006 (online copy updated Aug 2009)

Contact Information Introduction

A

National Veterinary 

Services Laboratories 

and Center for Veterinary 

Biologics:

Working with the World Organization 

for Animal Health (OIE)

t the international level, the Veterinary Services (VS) program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) collaborates extensively with the World Organization for 

Animal Health. This Paris-based organization changed its name recently but still uses its former acronym—OIE. 

Currently, 167 OIE member countries work together to collect, analyze, and disseminate information on the 

distribution and occurrence of animal diseases; to provide expertise and encourage international harmonization 

in the control of animal diseases; and to safeguard world trade by publishing international standards for the safe 

movement of animals and animal products.

Within APHIS–VS, four major program areas interact directly with OIE: the National Veterinary Services 

Laboratories (NVSL), the Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), the Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health 

(CEAH), and the National Center for Import/Export’s (NCIE) Sanitary International Standards Team.

NVSL and CVB—together with the Institute for International 

Cooperation in Animal Biologics (IICAB)—make up the 

Collaborating Centre for the Diagnosis of Animal 

Diseases and Vaccine Evaluation in the 

Americas. 
National Veterinary Services 

Laboratories: An OIE Reference 

Laboratory

NVSL—a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory— 

is recognized by OIE as an international reference 

laboratory for specific animal diseases of importance to 

the Americas. These include high-pathogenicity avian 

influenza, anthrax, pseudorabies, bluetongue, contagious 

equine metritis, equine encephalomyelitis (eastern, 

western, and Venezuelan), equine infectious anemia, 

leptospirosis, Newcastle disease, vesicular stomatitis, and 

West Nile encephalitis.

NVSL supports OIE by:

• Providing diagnostic assistance,

• Supplying reference reagents to other laboratories, 

• Evaluating diagnostic reagents used by other countries, 

• Consulting on a wide range of techniques, and

• Conducting developmental projects to improve diagnostic 

techniques for diseases of significance to the Americas.

Center for Veterinary Biologics

CVB is the sole confirmatory and investigatory testing 

laboratory involved in regulation of commercial veterinary 

biologics (vaccines and diagnostic kits) in the United States.

CVB supports OIE by:

• Developing, distributing, and using worldwide standard 

protocols for biologics evaluation and training scientists 

throughout the world on these protocols;

• Validating and providing standard reagents to biologics 

manufacturers and regulatory laboratories worldwide;

• Conducting developmental projects to improve biological 

techniques for diseases of significance in the Americas;

• Reviewing, developing, comparing, and harmonizing 

testing protocols in collaboration with industry and other 

governmental laboratories; 

• Actively participating in international harmonization initiatives 

aimed at improving standards and testing procedures for 

veterinary biologics; and

• Hosting scientific meetings in the area of veterinary biologics.

Institute for International Cooperation in 

Animal Biologics

This institute, based at Iowa State University, concentrates 

on educational efforts and facilitating international 

communication and harmonization related to the 

availability, safety, and efficacy of veterinary biologics. 

Specifically, IICAB:

• Offers training on scientific principles behind vaccine 

safety and efficacy;

• Works with other international organizations to 

harmonize regulations regarding veterinary biologics in 

the Americas;

• Helps developing countries obtain veterinary biologics 

for specific unmet needs and helps in their efforts to 

manufacture, import, and regulate veterinary biologics 

and diagnostics; and

• Organizes scientific meetings and serves as an 

international resource for information on the use of 

veterinary biologics.

This OIE-recognized Centre is made up of three components—NVSL, CVB, and IICAB. Together, they work to develop a multiyear continuing-education effort 

for U.S. veterinarians, personnel at State veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and U.S. and international biologics regulators and manufacturers. In the event of 

an exotic animal disease outbreak, this additional training better prepares these individuals to diagnose and respond to the disease. It also prepares the United 

States to safely trade veterinary vaccines and other biologics needed for disease response and control worldwide.

VS’ NCIE plays an important role in APHIS’ mission of protecting American agriculture. The Center’s Sanitary International Standards Team is in 

charge of several critical tasks: facilitating international trade, monitoring the health of animals presented at the border for importation, and regulating 

the import and export of animals, animal products, and biologics.

The National Center for Import/Export’s Sanitary International Standards Team

Collaborating Centre for the Diagnosis of Animal Diseases and Vaccine Evaluation in the Americas

As the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Disease Information Systems and Risk Analysis, CEAH shares their risk analysis and disease-surveillance 

expertise with other OIE member countries. CEAH personnel provide them with technical assistance and expert advice on disease surveillance and 

control along with risk analysis.

The Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health: An OIE Collaborating Centre