United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2134

National Veterinary Services Laboratories

USDA, APHIS, VS

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

Ames, IA 50010 Greenport, NY 11944-0848

Ph: (515) 337-7266 Ph: (631) 323-3256

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

Email: nvsl.concerns@aphis.usda.gov 

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

services/about_nvsl.shtml

Center for Veterinary Biologics

USDA, APHIS, VS

P.O. Box 844

Ames, IA 50010

Ph: (515) 337-7331

Fax: (515) 337-6100

Email: cvb@aphis.usda.gov

Web site: 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

Ph: (515) 294-1850

Fax: (515) 294-8259

Email: iicab@iastate.edu 

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

Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health

USDA, APHIS, VS

2150 Centre Avenue, Building B

Ft. Collins, CO 80526

Ph: (970) 494-7200

Fax: (970) 472-1897

Email: vs.ceah@aphis.usda.gov

Web site: www.aphis.usda.gov/about_aphis/programs_

offices/veterinary_services/ceah.shtml

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

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

This publication supersedes Program Aid No. 1853, “National 

Veterinary Services Laboratories and Center for Veterinary 

Biologics: Working with the World Organization for Animal 

Health (OIE),” which was published in January 2006. 

Issued March 2013

Contact Information Introduction

A

Veterinary Services 

Centers: Providing 

International Leadership

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, 178 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, three major program areas interact directly with OIE: the National Veterinary Services 

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

Health (CEAH). 

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, foot-and-mouth 

disease, leptospirosis, Newcastle disease, swine influenza, 

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. 

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

IICAB is based at Iowa State University and concentrates 

its efforts on continuing education, a comprehensive Web 

site that contains animal disease information, and the 

harmonization of veterinary biologics regulations through 

communication and information sharing. The Institute also 

works to improve the availability, safety, efficacy, and use 

of veterinary biologics. 

Specifically, IICAB:

•	 Offers training on scientific principles behind vaccine

safety and efficacy and organizes scientific meetings;

•	 Hosts a comprehensive English/Spanish language Web site

featuring animal disease information and other resources;

•	 Maintains a Web-based compendium of vaccines for

transboundary animal diseases; and 

•	 Helps developing countries obtain veterinary biologics

for specific unmet needs and helps in their efforts to 

manufacture, import, and regulate veterinary biologics 

and diagnostics.

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

to 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.

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

As the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Disease Surveillance Systems, Risk Analysis, and Epidemiologic Modeling, CEAH shares analytical expertise

with other OIE member countries. Through international trainings, consultation, and collaborative analysis projects, CEAH assists in the global effort to 

increase veterinary capacity while promoting a better international understanding of the science that supports VS’ policies.

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