COVID-19

Coronavirus imageWe 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 

Read PDF letter

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

At this time, due to COVID-19, the Laboratory for Udder Health has limited testing services to the following tests, effective Thursday, March 26: 

  • Screening tests on Individual Cow or Bulk Milk samples including: 
    • Mycoplasma Culture 
    • Prototheca Culture
    • Staphylococcus Culture
    • Streptococcus Culture
  • Full Mastitis Culture- SMALL SUBMISSIONS ONLY (10 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. Any clients whose submissions we cannot accomocate 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 an urgent need for tests not currently offered, or 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.