MU Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

New VMDL Policies Regarding COVID-19

The University of Missouri has announced changing policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although policies change on a daily basis, the VMDL will do its utmost to continue serving its clients throughout these difficult times. The VMDL will operate with reduced staffing and mission critical personnel in all lab sections.

How does this impact our clients?

  • Our facilities will be secured and no clients or visitors will be allowed inside. We will provide a drop box for daytime sample submission located outside our receiving entrance. This drop box will not be available after hours. We encourage clients to prepare paperwork in advance.
  • We will continue to receive specimens via FedEx, FedEx billable stamps, UPS, and US Mail.
  • Turnaround times and testing capabilities may be impacted. We will do our best to meet your needs, but it may take longer than usual.

What about necropsies?

  • We encourage our clients to consider field necropsy with tissue collection as an alternative to whole animal submission, whenever possible.
  • When submitting a whole body, please have paperwork ready. We will be limiting in-person interactions and will offload the specimen with the client remaining in their vehicle. Smaller animals may be placed in the drop box.
  • Digital photographs of gross lesions may be submitted with field necropsy specimens, when available. Please call 573-882-6811 if you would like to provide images with your submission.
  • We will be limiting necropsy specimen submission to daytime business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 AM- 5 PM).
  • Note: The VMDL does NOT accept live animals for necropsy (excluding avian/poultry). Euthanasia may be performed by the referring veterinarian, or an appointment may be scheduled with the appropriate service at the Veterinary Health Center.

Thank you for your continued business and support. Please stay safe.

Dr. Shuping Zhang
Director, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology

Message from the Director

The University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory and Missouri’s only laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The VMDL is a Level I Lab of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, Tier I Lab of the FDA Veterinary Laboratory Response Network, and a National Poultry Improvement Plan authorized lab. The VMDL maintains an effective quality assurance and quality control program.

The VMDL has formal anatomical pathology, clinical pathology, and clinical microbiology training programs. The VMDL faculty hold academic appointments in the Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology and Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. The director is administratively responsible to the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine for the overall operation of the laboratory and its multiple missions of public service, teaching, research and continuing education/extension.

The VMDL faculty and staff work diligently to provide relevant, timely and cost-effective diagnostic services to our clients and to create a positive learning environment for our students and residents. In 2023, the VMDL processed approximately 64,924 accessions and performed more than 207,026 laboratory tests, which represents a 10.67 percent increase in diagnostic accessions and 17.54 percent increase in laboratory tests compared to 2022. The diagnostic service was utilized by veterinarians, owners, and researchers from 110 Missouri counties and independent cities and 28 other states.

About the MU VMDL

The VMDL is a full-service laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). The VMDL provides in-depth laboratory diagnostic support to veterinary practitioners, livestock and poultry industry interests, companion animal interests, wildlife conservationists, scientists utilizing animals in their research throughout the university, state and regulatory officials, and clinicians of the MU Veterinary Health Center.

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