MU Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Construction Update: After Hours Necropsy Drop-off Temporarily Suspended

Utility construction has begun immediately adjacent to the VMDL loading dock. This work is restricting access for vehicles and trailers. To keep everyone safe, we have implemented some new policies and procedures. For daytime carcass drop-off, receiving personnel will have access to equipment to facilitate unloading carcasses. However, because of the construction work and equipment access, we can no longer safely accept carcasses after hours. 

Animal intake will be limited to 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of this portion of construction. We will notify our clients immediately when after-hours drop off has been reinstated. 

We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we update our facilities!

Guidance for Submissions During VMDL Construction Project

Due to the location of the Phase 1 VMDL construction project, a section of East Campus Loop to the east of the VMDL will be closed to through traffic. However, to ensure continuity of operations, access to the VMDL will still be available. Please read the following instructions carefully.

The VMDL receiving entrance and loading dock area on the north side of the building will be accessible to our clients throughout the construction process. However, this area must be approached from the north, by way of East Campus Loop. The VMDL receiving and loading dock areas will NOT be accessible from the south, by way of East Campus Loop or Cattle Drive.

If you have any questions or need directions, please call the lab at 573-882-6811. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we update our facilities!

Under the Scope – Summer 2022

Staff Profile: Toxicology Technician Serves in Missouri Army National Guard

2nd Lt. Rhys Sitz is a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) officer in the Missouri Army National Guard. He currently serves as a heavy decontamination platoon leader in the 3175th Chemical Company in Bridgeton, a position he has held since commissioning as an officer in 2020. Sitz is currently serving his 10th year in the Missouri Army National Guard after first enlisting in 2011 and serving in the 138th Forward Support Company. He joined the VMDL as a senior research specialist in toxicology in August 2021.

How do you balance your duties at the VMDL with your military service?

It is a challenge balancing my National Guard duties with my VMDL position, but the VMDL and my section have been very supportive in working with my drills and other obligations. I recently got back from a four-month long military course during my training period, and everyone has been very helpful in helping me get back up to speed quickly.

VMDL Policy Update: Owner Pre-Payment

Starting May 23, 2022, the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) started requiring a completed payment agreement form and an accompanying $60 pre-payment deposit to receive and provide diagnostic testing services on owner submitted accessions. Note: This policy will not affect billing practices for our veterinary clients; however, please help us educate owners who drop off directly at the VMDL.

VMDL will provide owners with an invoice upon completion of diagnostic accession work. The pre-payment balance will be applied toward the total invoice balance. Any remaining balance must be paid to the VMDL within 30 days of the invoice date.

For questions about this policy, please contact the VMDL business office.

New VMDL Fee Guide Coming Soon! Pricing Effective Aug. 1, 2022

It is time to recycle your old fee guide and replace it with our new booklet for 2022-2023. In addition to pricing adjustments, we have made the following changes to our service offerings. Please take a moment to review the testing changes below.

Tests Added:

• Anaerobic Antimicrobial Susceptibility (recommended for Bacteroides spp.) $50
• Avian Health PCR Panel (PMV, AI, MG, MS) $85

Tests Discontinued:

• Feline Calicivirus SN (Serology)
• Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) Rapid Plate Test (Avian)
• Tritrichomonas foetus Culture (Bacteriology)
• Amylase/Lipase (Clinical Pathology)
• Ammonia (Toxicology)
• Arsenic (Toxicology)
• Cholinesterase Activity (Toxicology)

If you have any questions about our new fee guide, please feel free to call the laboratory at 573-882-6811. We strive to provide high quality diagnostics at a reasonable price.

VMDL Associate Director Gayle Johnson, DVM, PhD, Wins Dean’s Impact Award

At her retirement party this summer, Gayle Johnson was awarded the Dean’s Impact Award for her many years of exceptional service.

A nomination letter for Johnson reads: “Over her long career, Dr. Johnson has made invaluable contributions to the College of Veterinary Medicine and advancement of scientific knowledge. She provides a solid foundation in pathology to the VM2s through her lectures in the general pathology course. She continues to build upon that foundation through her instruction of VM3 and VM4s during their diagnostics rotation. Her dedication to teaching veterinarians does not end once they graduate, as she is also instrumental in educating residents. She contributes to weekly rounds for clinicians and students in neuropathology, oncology, and Joint Pathology Center Wednesday Slide Conference. Outside of her role as an educator, Dr. Johnson is also an accomplished investigator. Her numerous publications have advanced veterinary knowledge of neuropathology, infectious disease, immunology, and oncology.”

UNDER THE SCOPE – SUMMER 2022

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 2021, the VMDL processed approximately 55,756 accessions and performed more than 162,000 diagnostic tests. The diagnostic service was utilized by veterinarians and owners in 105 counties in Missouri and 43 US states and Canadian provinces.

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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901 E. Campus Loop
Columbia, MO 65211

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