The cabinet says the lab is about 30 years old and insufficient to handle new technology, specifically the heat produced the machines.
Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack warned it’s vital the lab remains up and running.
"We're the only Biosafety Level 3 lab in the entire state of Kentucky," Stack said. "If there's an anthrax or ricin or other threat, we are the only lab in the state that can run those tests. If those services go offline, there is no place in Kentucky that can do it.
Authorities got a taste of that threat during a deep freeze in the winter, which damaged cooling systems on the roof of the building, creating high temperatures inside.
The proposal involves building out additional space, keeping the current lab as a backup. If approved, the earliest the funding and construction could be complete is roughly 6 ½ years.
