About

Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) is an internationally recognised, leading Australian public health laboratory located within the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Victoria. VIDRL provides diagnostic testing for the community and public health reference laboratory services, including surveillance, outbreak investigations, reference testing and applied research to the Victorian Department of Health. Reference functions cover virology, bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, and mycobacteria. VIDRL also provides services, expertise, and advice to national and regional programs and has Commonwealth Department of Health reference laboratory designations for polio and enteroviruses, measles, viral haemorrhagic fevers, and smallpox.

VIDRL has a strong relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and holds WHO Collaborating Centre designations for Reference and Research on Influenza, Mycobacterium ulcerans, and viral hepatitis, and is a member of the WHO Coronavirus Network (CoViNet). In addition, VIDRL holds WHO Regional Reference Laboratory designations for poliovirus, measles, and hepatitis B, and is a WHO National Influenza Centre.

On behalf of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIDRL became the 16th member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Centralised Laboratory Network.

VIDRL aims to continuously improve the health of our local and global communities through excellence and international leadership in discovery, diagnostics, and translational research for infectious diseases. VIDRL has 3 key focus areas: emerging pathogens and pandemic management (with a particular focus on viral pathogens), emerging technologies and platforms, and regional and global health.

History:

The Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory originated at the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Victoria. The first Bacteriology laboratory was built at the hospital in 1918 at a time when illnesses such as diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough, and influenza prevailed. A purpose-built Pathology laboratory was commissioned in the 1930’s, and in 1948, the Victorian Tuberculosis Laboratory attained a reference status.

A tissue culture laboratory was established in the 1950’s to investigate and isolate poliovirus. In 1964 the Fairfield laboratory was designated a World Health Organisation (WHO) Reference Centre for Enteroviruses and Respiratory Viruses for Oceania. The National High Security Unit was opened in 1982 and the HIV Reference Laboratory was established in 1984, followed by designation as a WHO collaborating Centre for AIDS and related diseases in 1985.

In 1992 the Pathology and Virology Laboratories merged to become the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL). Upon Fairfield Hospital’s closure in 1996, VIDRL’s governance was transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and relocated to Jane Bell House, North Melbourne in 1998. In 2014 VIDRL relocated to the purpose-built Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.