Disease Research Limited

What Disease Research Limited does

Disease Research Limited (DRL) is an independent diagnostic laboratory headquartered in Mosgiel, Dunedin, New Zealand, founded in 1985 by Professor Frank Griffin at the University of Otago. The company specialises in Johne's disease testing across ruminant species (deer, cattle, sheep, goats, and alpaca) and provides TB testing in deer. Its core technical platform combines Paralisa™, a proprietary multi-antigen IgG1 ELISA, with quantitative Faecal PCR, enabling paired serological and molecular diagnostic workflows. DRL holds USDA APHIS accreditation for faecal PCR — the only New Zealand laboratory and one of only two in the southern hemisphere to do so — and has participated continuously in the NVSL proficiency panel since 2008.

DRL operates a quote-based service model, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Its customer base spans individual deer, dairy, and beef farmers, small ruminant and alpaca owners, and veterinary practices across New Zealand. The company became employee-owned in 2020 through a management buyout, and operates as a small, specialised team with no disclosed external funding. The business has no publicly stated revenue, no external investors, and no disclosed digital or AI-enabled product layers.

Name

Disease Research Limited

Legal name

Disease Research Limited

Website

https://drl.net.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Disease Research Limited is an independent, employee-owned diagnostic laboratory in New Zealand specialising in Johne's disease testing for ruminants, combining a proprietary Paralisa™ ELISA with USDA APHIS-accredited faecal PCR for farmers and veterinarians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Veterinary Services (54194), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Agricultural Services (700), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing (Culture/PCR/Serology) (HLAMADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories & Pathology (AFAEANAF), Reference Laboratory Testing (Clinical Pathology & Chemistry) (HLAMADAA), Diagnostics & Laboratory Services (Sampling, Necropsy, Disease Investigation) (AFACADAF)

Keywords

• Johne's disease testing
• Veterinary diagnostic laboratory
• Faecal PCR testing
• Serum ELISA testing
• Livestock disease diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Mosgiel, Dunedin

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Diagnostic Laboratory Testing Services: DRL generates revenue through fee-for-service diagnostic testing of animal samples (blood, milk, faeces) for Johne's disease and tuberculosis. Testing is performed on submitted samples from veterinarians and farmers. Pricing varies by test type, sample volume, and whether pooling is requested. Special pricing available for custom diagnostic programmes and bulk submissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DRL is an independent veterinary diagnostic laboratory providing fee-for-service Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) and tuberculosis testing for farmed ruminants in New Zealand. The core offerings are the proprietary Paralisa™ multi-antigen serum ELISA test, quantitative Faecal PCR (fPCR) for direct quantification of MAP shedding levels in dung, and USDA-accredited tuberculosis testing for deer, with combined Paralisa™ + absorbed ELISA protocols for heifer screening programmes.

Product overview

Disease Research Limited (DRL) offers a suite of diagnostic testing services for Johne's disease and tuberculosis in farmed ruminants, primarily deer and cattle. The core offerings consist of Paralisa™ (a multi-antigen serum ELISA test), Faecal PCR (quantitative PCR for MAP shedding in dung samples), and TB Testing for deer. Additional services include combined Paralisa™ + absorbed ELISA testing and heifer-specific testing programmes. These services are delivered as laboratory testing services with sample submission by veterinarians and farmers, providing quantitative results to guide herd management and culling decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Paralisa™: Multi-antigen ELISA test for diagnosis of Johne's disease in deer and cattle, providing greater sensitivity in early subclinical states.
• fPCR (Faecal PCR)

Products and services

• Paralisa™ Test Proprietary IgG1 multi-antigen ELISA test for diagnosis of Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) in farmed deer and cattle, validated for use with milk or serum samples. Provides greater sensitivity than single-antigen commercial kits, particularly in early subclinical disease where shedding animals can be identified before production losses occur.
• Quantitative Faecal PCR (fPCR) Test Quantitative diagnostic test providing direct quantitation of MAP (Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis) shedding in faeces to assess severity of Johne's disease in alpaca, dairy cows, deer, goats, and sheep. Stratifies results into Not Detected, Background, Low, Moderate, High, and Very High (Supershedder) categories to enable targeted culling of highest-risk animals. Pooled testing (pools of 10) available with re-testing of individuals in positive pools.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Testing in Deer ETB diagnostic testing service for Tuberculosis in farmed deer, performed per Deer TB Tester Guidelines and submitted in coordination with the TBfree/OSPRI national TB control programme. All TB testing administered under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
• Heifer Johne's Testing (Paralisa™ + Absorbed ELISA) Combined Paralisa™ multi-antigen test with absorbed ELISA testing service for heifers aged 18 months and older, designed to detect immune responses in animals infected at birth before they begin shedding MAP. Developed following 3+ years of research across 12 herds and over 8,000 heifers; increases positive immune response detection by over 5% compared to absorbed ELISA alone.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serum test positive rate reduced from 26% to 3% in 3 years using DRL's testing strategy
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, foundational and minor.

• AgMardt (Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-funded a $150,000 research project 'New approaches to control parasites in deer' with NZDFA. Project developed DNA-based diagnostic assays for gut parasites and lungworm using DRL's faecal testing technology.
• University of OtagofoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRL originated in 1985 within the Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology at University of Otago. Maintains university research heritage and ongoing R&D commitment. Prof. Frank Griffin was faculty member.
• New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNZDFA has co-funded DRL research projects including parasite control and Johne's disease biomarker research. NZDFA Chairman endorsed DRL's services and innovation. DRL pivotal in reducing Tb in deer herds from 430 infected in 1989 to 2 today.
• DairyNZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairyNZ endorses DRL's testing approach and has published best practice guidelines recommending herd testing and removal of positive cows. DRL mentioned in DairyNZ Johne's disease management resources.
• Johne's Disease Research Consortium (JDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJDRC data cited by DRL showing MAP prevalence in NZ herds (60% dairy, 60% deer, 31% beef, 68% sheep). JDRC toolbox and resources reference DRL testing methodology.
• Vetlife New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Andrew Bates of Vetlife collaborated with DRL on peer-reviewed studies published in BMC Veterinary Research describing JD control programmes using DRL's testing strategy and economic impact of subclinical MAP infection.
• Clutha Vets Animal Health CentreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVeterinary practice submitting samples to DRL. Listed as DRL customer/trusted by.
• VetEntminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVeterinary practice submitting samples to DRL. Listed as DRL customer/trusted by.
• Johne's Management Ltd (JML)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry-funded programme established 2007 to assist NZ deer industry with Johne's disease control. Endorses prompt identification and removal of shedding livestock as single most significant step - aligns with DRL's testing approach.
• TBfree/OSPRIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBfree programme administers TB testing in deer. DRL processes ETB samples as part of national Tb control programme. Results reported by TBfree. All TB testing administered under Biosecurity Act 1993.
• Centre for Dairy ExcellencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with DRL and Dr Andrew Bates on published research describing control of Johne's disease on NZ pastoral dairy farms using DRL's testing services.
• Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDINZ responsible for promoting and developing NZ deer industry. Producer Manager Tony Pearse acknowledged DRL's role in deer research. DINZ Johne's disease Fact Sheet references DRL.
• Beef & Lamb New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrepared Johne's Disease guidelines for beef and sheep farmers. DRL referenced in related resources.
• Proteus Research and ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Darryl MacKenzie of Proteus prepared diagrams demonstrating increased efficacy of Paralisa + ELISA combination testing across 12 herds with over 5,000 heifers.
• AgResearch Deer Research GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with DRL on parasite diagnostic research using young red deer at AgResearch Invermay agricultural campus.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DRLOtago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Disease Research Limited