Kissimmee Animal Diagnostics Lab in Kissimmee, Fla., recently opened a new 1,650-sf biosafety level 3 laboratory. As the only animal testing facility of its kind in the state, the lab will support Florida’s homeland security programs and response to food safety threats by providing rapid screenings for diseases such as BSE in cattle populations. Funded by the state, the lab is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pilot network of state and federal surveillance labs and is equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment. The USDA provided a $750,000 grant for equipment and staffing; the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services received $1.5 million from the Office of Domestic Preparedness to enhance the department’s ability to respond to bio-terrorism incidents.
