Agdia's involvement
Agdia, Inc. participates in the National Plum Pox Virus Survey program by facilitating testing efforts necessary to identify and eradicate the Plum pox virus. The survey is under the direction and guidance of USDA-APHIS. Testing is carried out at the state level in orchards as well as in some mother blocks that are sources for budwood.
Agdia makes available the PPV ELISA test kits used by state and national agencies that test for the virus. Our testing services lab also receives samples from states that need to expedite testing. Our assistance in providing consistent and reliable testing allows government officials to focus on sampling efforts.
Contact Mike Tiffany, plant pathologist www.miket@agdia.com
Orders can be placed by calling 1-800-62-AGDIA.
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For complete information about PPV, visit the following sites:
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What happens when samples are sent to Agdia?
All samples that arrive at Agdia are handled carefully and according to quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures we have in place. Because the PPV virus is unstable in prunus tissue, samples are immediately placed into a cold room and kept there unless they are being processed.
- The samples are logged into our database and assigned an activity number. The samples are marked with this activity number so they can be easily identified and tracked through the entire Agdia testing process.
- Once samples are logged in and organized, one-half gram of leaf tissue is removed from each sample and placed into a labeled mesh bag.
- Five mls of PPV extraction buffer is added to each mesh bag. The tissue is ground in the special extraction bag using a tissue homogenizer attached to a drill press.
- Immediately, after the tissue is ground, 100 ul of the sample extract is placed into a precoated PPV ELISA plate.
- The Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) ELISA test is performed according to the prescribed protocol. See the instructions.
- At the end of the last incubation step, test samples are read on a plate reader at 405 nm. The ELISA data is imported into our database and a report is generated and sent to the submitting state.
- If any samples are potential positives, these samples are retested. We go back to the original leaf samples take another one-half gram sample and grind as before. If the samples are once again potentially positive a PCR test is performed. In the event a potential positive result is confirmed, results are reported to the submitting state and to USDA-APHIS.
Guidelines for sending PPV samples to Agdia.
If you wish to have Agdia test your prunus samples for the presence of Plum pox virus (PPV), please follow the sample submission guidelines below.
- Shortly before you begin collecting samples, 7-10 days prior to your first harvest, please call Agdia Testing Services, at 1-800-62-AGDIA. Testing services will need to know when you expect to ship samples, how many shipments per week, and approximately how many samples per shipment.
This information is critical in the scheduling and the timely processing of your samples.
- Ship your samples to us by overnight UPS or Federal Express. Please staple your sample bags in groups of 10 bags each.
- Please fax testing services, at 574-264-2153, a copy of your packing list when you send us your shipment. In addition to the sample identifications, please include the name, fax number, and e-mail address of the person who is to receive a copy of the report.
Please keep your sample names and/or numbers as simple as possible. This will aid us in timely and accurate reporting.
- DO NOT use ice packs, ice blocks, or gels in your shipping container. These can damage the leaf tissue by freezing it or breaking the leaves into small pieces. Damaged leaf tissue might require re-sampling in the field, if the original sample cannot be used in the testing process.
- If we receive less than 50 samples in any shipment, that shipment will be invoiced at our full Testing Services rate.
- If we receive any shipments that have more than 8 leaves per bag, we will make composite samples of 8 leaves per sample and charge an additional fee of $1.00 per sample.
For example if we receive 100 PPV samples that have 16 leaves per sample, you will be billed for testing 200 samples and charged an additional fee of $200.00 (200 samples X $1.00).
- If you have any questions on the collection or shipping of your samples, please call Testing Services at 1-800-62-AGDIA.
If you have questions or need additional information, contact:
Mike Tiffany, plant pathologist, miket@agdia.com
Chet Sutula, testing services director, chet@agdia.com
Phone: 1-800-62-AGDIA or Fax: 1-574-264-2153
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