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.
Virginia Tech
413 Latham Hall
220 Ag Quad Lane
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
Virginia Tech
413 Latham Hall
220 Ag Quad Lane
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
Virginia Tech
413 Latham Hall
220 Ag Quad Lane
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0390
(540) 231-0733
vtdontesting@gmail.com
nmcmaste@vt.edu