Same Day PRRS Testing

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release

Contacts: Meta Gaertnier, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612.624.4752

U OF MINNESOTA LAB OFFERS SAME-DAY PRRS TESTING
TO SWINE INDUSTRY

Veterinary Diagnostic Lab turnaround is nation's fastest; part of ongoing commitment to meet customer needs

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (Jan. 17, 2003) - Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) can be devastating to the nation's pork producers, costing some producers hundreds of thousands of dollars and putting others out of business. A new same-day PRRS testing service from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine can help producers verify that their boars test negative for the disease and provide the means to detect and control PRRS more quickly, which can increase productivity and save herds.

Minnesota's is the first veterinary diagnostic lab in the nation to provide high-volume, same-day turnaround. The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory launched the service in response to requests from Minnesota boar stud operations that need to prove to semen buyers that their boar semen has tested negative for PRRS virus. The lab already was offering next-day service, which is significantly faster than the three to four days previously required to perform the test. The same-day service is available to boar stud producers nationwide.

"PRRS virus is shed in boar semen even before there are clinical signs, so boar stud operations need evidence that the product they ship to buyers has been tested and found negative for PRRS virus," said Jim Collins, DVM, PhD, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (VDL).

"Boar semen must be shipped fresh, so every hour that the shipment is delayed results in some degradation. Rapid results translate into greater productivity, because the semen can be sold and used when at its peak," Collins said.

PRRS is the No. 1 infectious disease affecting the swine industry, causing stillbirths, low-birth weight, premature birth, pneumonia and death. The disease spreads rapidly and is transmitted in the semen of boars or from hog-to-hog contact.

"When producers asked us in December for faster results, we immediately revamped our PRRS testing service," said Jeffery Klausner, DVM and dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "We're further strengthening Minnesota's animal food production industry while providing value-added services that can improve a producer's bottom line."

The VDL introduced the service on Jan. 6, and in the first four days conducted about 350 tests on more than 1,300 semen samples. Two components make the same-day service possible:

• First, the VDL modified the delivery time so samples arrive earlier, and it adjusted laboratory staffing to accommodate working well into the evening.
• Second, the VDL's online result reporting service was enhanced. Rather than wait for a written or faxed report, customers can retrieve results within eight hours through the VDL's secure Web site. Using a unique password, they simply access the report, print it and have the option of enclosing it with the semen shipment for the buyer's review.

VDL's online reporting service allows producers and veterinarians to view individual test results or to retrospectively view results from all the samples they've submitted.

"Our Web site provides real-time test results along with links to key treatment information 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Collins. "We're committed to converting diagnostic data into information that veterinarians and producers can use to act more quickly and better manage their operations."

All PRRS tests are conducted at the VDL facility on the University's St. Paul campus. Established in 1904, the VDL is dedicated to identifying emerging diseases, developing new and more effective diagnostic methods, and training veterinarians and graduate students. It serves as the official laboratory of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and is the state's only full-service, accredited animal diagnostic facility, charged with diagnosing such infectious diseases as chronic wasting disease, West Nile virus, Johne's disease in dairy cattle, and avian pneumovirus in turkeys. The lab conducted more than 1 million diagnostic tests in 2002.

The College of Veterinary Medicine improves the health and well-being of animals and people by providing high-quality veterinary training, conducting leading-edge research and delivering innovative veterinary services.

The Academic Health Center (AHC) is home to the University of Minnesota's seven health professional schools and colleges, including the College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as several health-related centers and institutions. Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land-grant institutions in the country. The AHC mission is to prepare the new health professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the economy.

www.cvm.umn.edu

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