The Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory Program (VRDL) is one of the oldest and largest state public health virology laboratories. As a CLIA-certified state public health laboratory performing high complexity testing, it serves as the reference laboratory for local public health laboratories and other clients and provides some primary testing for local public health departments that do not have laboratories. The VRDL is an advanced reference laboratory for the federal Laboratory Response Network and is regulated under the federal Select Agents Program. VRDL provides laboratory testing, technical consultation and support, training and assistance, and research required for the diagnosis, investigation, and control of Viral and Rickettsial diseases, and for the development and mainten