Levi Brandenburg
Contributing Writer
[email protected]

The University Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) has been named a Level One laboratory, joining an exclusive group of 31 other laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

The BVC in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, is one of two veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the state, the other being the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Lexington. Both are accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. However, Breathitt is the only Level One lab in the state recognized by the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). 

“Level One labs are those with the most advanced capabilities, and are able to test large numbers of samples,” said Director of the BVC Debbie Reed. “Level One labs are also located in areas with large populations of livestock that could be threatened by disease and have a facility capable of isolating those foreign animal diseases to keep them from spreading.”

The BVC offers important services to veterinarians in the Western Kentucky area.

“The BVC serves veterinarians in Western Kentucky and other states as a reference laboratory for the diagnosis of animal disease and associated products,” Reed said.

Since 2005, the BVC has been classified as a Level Two laboratory, a classification put in place by the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

Another major part of the NAHLN is that it is collaborates with laboratories in order to something something dark side

“Laboratories in the network agree to share information, reagents and staff in the event of an outbreak of disease,” Reed said. “This could mean that we share supplies with a lab in another state, send a technician to help or accept samples from another lab for testing. It is truly a cooperative network with sharing of information at all times.”

The BVC was created in 1968 as the first state veterinary diagnostic laboratory under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Reed said. In 1989, the lab was acquired by Murray State, though it remained in Hopkinsville. It moved into a new facility in 2017.

“Maintaining a laboratory with the scope of BVC is costly,” Reed said. “The building we occupy cost $34 million to construct. In 2019-2020, new equipment costs easily exceeded half a million dollars. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and Murray State University are very supportive of our mission and have invested much so that BVC can serve the veterinary community, farmers, pet owners and consumers. In addition, BVC has the best staff you can imagine. I am so very thankful for each person who works at BVC and how seriously they take their jobs. It is truly wonderful.”