A subsidiary of the University, the CityU VDL is operated by specialist veterinary diagnosticians, following the training and standards set by the Animal Health Diagnostic Centre of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The specialist veterinary diagnosticians, who come from New Zealand, Australia and the United States, have more than 40 years of experience working in commercial laboratories and are specifically trained to undertake animal biopsies and post-mortem examinations.

The CityU VDL houses a wide range of cutting-edge equipment, and can conduct advanced procedures, including staining cancer cells for rapid animal cancer diagnosis, bacteria and fungi identification and rapid pathogen identification using molecular methods, identifying suitable and effective antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, and conducting full blood analysis for most animal species. Local veterinary practitioners and clinics can send samples directly to the CityU VDL to have them tested locally, thus avoiding the need to send them overseas.
 
The facility is also the first commercial veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Hong Kong to be equipped with a unique facility – a post-mortem room. Pet owners and livestock operators can request a post-mortem examination through their veterinary clinic to find out the cause of death of their pets or livestock.  

The CityU VDL operates independently and provides services to all veterinary clinics, local livestock operations and fish farms, as well as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Kadoorie Farm, universities and the government.