Welcome
to the Virginia Tech Deoxynivalenol (DON) testing
lab! We provide DON testing for wheat and barley
samples for United States Wheat and
Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI)
researchers and Virginia
Small Grains Board (VSGB) stakeholders. Our
testing is performed using an Agilent 6890/5975 GC/MS for all mycotoxin
testing, based on methods described by Tacke & Casper (1996). Click here to view
a pdf our protocol for mycotoxin testing. Currently, our methods
routinely screen for the trichothecene
mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl-DON (3ADON), 15-acetyl-DON
(15ADON), and Nivalenol (NIV). Click
here to learn more about mycotoxins.
413 Latham Hall, Ag Quad Lane
Dept of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0390
(540) 231-0733
vtdontesting@gmail.com
nmcmaste@vt.edu
1.
Sample
size. Preference is for 100g lots of grain that have been
ground; at least 5.0g required. Our assay
uses 1.0g, but please allow extra for re-testing (e.g., dilutions,
reps, errors).
2. Sample type. Ground to a relatively uniform particle size. Grain should be clean of chaff prior to grinding.
3. Packaging. Individual envelopes (paper preferred) labeled with a sample number that corresponds to the submitted datasheet. The datasheet and the envelope labels MUST MATCH EXACTLY!
4. Receipt of samples. We will notify you by email when your samples arrived and have been checked in. Please include contact information in the package AND in the excel sheet that is sent with your samples.
5. Datasheets and results. Excel is preferred. First column with sample ID. Second column with sample description (e.g., Inoculated/Non-inoculated plants). Third column with weight. Fourth column with DON concentration (TBD). Additional columns for additional mycotoxins tested can be added, if requested. Please prioritize your samples in the order you would like them processed. We will send the data to you when a set of your samples is complete. Please click here to download an excel template for your samples.
6. Scheduling. Please refer to the gmail calendar below to see where your samples are in the system. Scheduled runs may change, but our goal is to update the calendar weekly.
7. Please ship your samples AND a hardcopy of your excel sheet to:
Niki McMaster
413 Latham Hall, Ag Quad Lane
Dept of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0390
(540) 231-0733
vtdontesting@gmail.com
nmcmaste@vt.edu
2. Sample type. Ground to a relatively uniform particle size. Grain should be clean of chaff prior to grinding.
3. Packaging. Individual envelopes (paper preferred) labeled with a sample number that corresponds to the submitted datasheet. The datasheet and the envelope labels MUST MATCH EXACTLY!
4. Receipt of samples. We will notify you by email when your samples arrived and have been checked in. Please include contact information in the package AND in the excel sheet that is sent with your samples.
5. Datasheets and results. Excel is preferred. First column with sample ID. Second column with sample description (e.g., Inoculated/Non-inoculated plants). Third column with weight. Fourth column with DON concentration (TBD). Additional columns for additional mycotoxins tested can be added, if requested. Please prioritize your samples in the order you would like them processed. We will send the data to you when a set of your samples is complete. Please click here to download an excel template for your samples.
6. Scheduling. Please refer to the gmail calendar below to see where your samples are in the system. Scheduled runs may change, but our goal is to update the calendar weekly.
7. Please ship your samples AND a hardcopy of your excel sheet to:
Niki McMaster
413 Latham Hall, Ag Quad Lane
Dept of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0390
(540) 231-0733
vtdontesting@gmail.com
nmcmaste@vt.edu