COVID-19
We continue to operate with as many people and functions as possible within the guidelines set forth by the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota. We are adjusting our availability of tests, both in number and frequency, to spare our key resources of time and supplies. Most of our services have not been affected, but please note the changes below that reflect our current adjustments. We will continue to update our website and encourage you to use that as a resource for up to date information. Please contact me if you have questions, concerns or ideas about our services at 612 624-0497 or torri001@umn.edu.
-Dr. Jerry Torrison, Director
Canine neuromuscular
EIC testing is currently suspended. See PDF
Equine neuromuscular
PSSM and MH testing is currently suspended. See PDF
Shipping
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has been notified by FedEx and UPS that they are not able to guarantee arrival dates for packages.
Effective immediately, we will only be shipping temperature sensitive samples for outsource testing Monday-Wednesday to avoid the risk of samples sitting over the weekend in delivery trucks.
Payments
The UMN is no longer accepting cash as Brinks has suspended service.
Facilities
The Veterinary Medical Center will not accept deliveries for the VDL after hours. Samples can only be delivered during regular hours at the VDL (7:45am - 4:30pm).
Administrative support
Our administrative staff will be working from home as much as possible. This will reduce our capacity to answer phone calls. If you need assistance or have questions, the laboratory email is a preferred communication: vdl@umn.edu. These emails will be directed to others in the lab or answered by our administrative staff.
Modified testing schedule
Some testing is being suspended or offered less frequently to spare materials and staff time. We will post new schedules on the website as they change. The new schedule is effective March 23, 2020.
If a test is not listed below, the schedule is unchanged.
Immunohistochemistry
| Test | Former schedule | New schedule |
| IHC staining | Daily | 2x/wk |
Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory
| Test | Former schedule | Reduced schedule | Testing days |
| AIV PCR (FAD, Clinical Signs, Pre-Movement) | Daily | Daily | as needed |
| AIV PCR- Routine NPIP monitoriing, non-time critical | Daily | 1-2x/wk | Open* |
| NDV PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Fri |
| Mycoplasma (MG, MM, MS, MI) PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Thu |
| APV PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Wed |
| REO PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Mon |
| ASTRO/ROTA PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Mon |
*will hold to batch test with AIV-FAD, clinical or pre-movement sample.
Molecular
| Test | Former schedule | Reduced schedule | Testing days |
| BVD PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Tue |
| Circovirus PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Fri |
| Bovine & Porcine Rotavirus PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Mon |
| Bovine coronavirus PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Mon |
| HEV PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Mon |
| Erysipelothrix species, Haemophilus parasuis, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis PCR (EHM) | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Tue |
| Lawsonia PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Tue |
| SVA PCR | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | Mon |
| Toxin genotyping (bacterial) | 2x/wk | 1x/wk | |
| EIC/PSSM | 2x/wk | No testing |
Serology
| Test | Former schedule | Reduced schedule | Testing days |
| Mycobacterium paratuberculosis ELISA | Wed, Fri | 1x/wk | Wed |
| Neospora ELISA | Wed, Fri | 1x/wk | Wed |
| BVD antigen capture ELISA | Wed | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Blue Tongue ELISA | Tue | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Anaplasma ELISA | Wed | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Leptospira MAT | Tue, Fri | 1x/wk | Thu |
| EIA ELISA and AGID | Mon, Wed, Fri | Tue, Fri | |
| Brucella serology (all tests) | M-F | Mon, Wed, Fri | |
| Brucella canis Card | M-F | Mon, Wed, Fri | |
| Brucella canis tube test | M-W | 1x/wk | Tue |
| lgG/lgM AGID | M-F | Not running | |
| Total lgG Zinc Sulfate | M-F | As per trained staff availability | |
| Caprine arthritis encephalitis/Ovine progressive pneumonia Elitest ELISA | M-W | Tue, Fri | |
| Clostridium difficile ELISA | Tue | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Swine influenza virus ELISA | Tue, Fri | Once weekly | Tue |
| Porcine circovirus type 2 ELISA | Once weekly | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Salmonella ELISA | Once weekly | Once every 2 weeks | |
| TGEv/PRCV ELISA | Once weekly | Once every 2 weeks (unless there is an export case) | |
| Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ELISA (APX) | Tue, Fri | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype ELISA (all serotypes) | Tue, Fri | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Senecavirus A ELISA | Wed | Once every 2 weeks | |
| Serum neutralization tests (all) | Tue, Fri | (unless there is an export case) | Tue |
| Hemagglutination inhibition {SIV) | Fri | Tue | |
| Hemagglutination inhibition (HEV, Pl3, PPV) | One weekly | Once every 2 weeks |
Parasitology
Turn-around times will be longer by 1-2 days due to staff limitations.
Pathology
We will not accept forensic cases due to staffing limitations. Our website has information on alternate laboratories providing this service.
Laboratory for Udder Health
- Full Mastitis Culture- SMALL SUBMISSIONS ONLY (20 or fewer individual cow or quarter samples)
We are not able to process large numbers of samples subitted for Full Mastitis Culture due to limited staffing and social distancing requirements. . Any clients whose submissions we cannot accomodate will be notified.
We will NOT be offering Bulk Milk Tests (other than screening tests as indicated above) or Other Tests (bedding, towel cultures) until further notice, but will re-evaluate testing capacity often and post updates here. If you have any questions, you are encouraged to email the Lab for Udder Health at mastlab@umn.edu. With limited staffing, phone calls will be returned as soon as possible.
Minnesota Easy® culture plates and other supplies may still be ordered via email to mastlab@umn.edu. At this time, we do not expect disruptions to this service, but please check back here for updates.