ISU veterinary diagnostic laboratory

Description of Elective Experience: 

VDPAM 455: Practical experience and training in necropsy, recognition of gross lesions, diagnostic sample collection and test selection for the diagnosis of infectious, toxic, nutritional and metabolic diseases through exposure to diagnostic cases submitted to the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The VDL accepts cases from all species; however, this course predominantly consists of porcine and bovine cases.

VDPAM 488: Application of microbiological procedures to the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Institutional and Educational Resources - staffing, equipment, etc.: 

The Iowa State VDL is a national leader in protecting animal and human health; the full-service laboratories at the VDL process upwards of 100,000 cases each year and conducts more than a million tests annually. Fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the VDL provides quality diagnostic services for animal species, including necropsy, bacteriology, serology, histopathology, virology, parasitology, molecular diagnostics, and toxicology as well as offering analytical services. Currently the VDL employs around 30 faculty and 140+ staff. 

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

VDPAM 455: Students will be involved in lectures, case discussion, and hands on case management (necropsy, dissection, sample selection, test selection, interpretation) from 8am-noon, Monday through Friday of each week.

VDPAM 488: Students will participate in lectures regarding clinical microbiology techniques utilized in diagnotic medicine, as well as hands on lab work and discussions of results. 

Student Housing (include costs, amenities, pet friendly, contact info if different from elective contact info): 

No formal student housing is available through this rotation; students may contact our Office of Academic and Student Affairs (mohoward@iastate.edu) or the VDPAM Curriculum Coordinator (meganjed@iastate.edu) to inquire about potential housing options. 

Supervisor: 
Marta Mainenti or Chris Siepker
Website: 
https://catalog.iastate.edu/search/?P=VDPAM%20455
Contact email: 
Address: 
ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
1850 Christensen Dr, Ames
Ames, IA 50011
United States
Practice or Institution Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
No
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40