Primate Assay Laboratory Core

The Primate Assay Laboratory Core was formerly known as the  Pathogen Detection Laboratory Core.

For Endocrinology Services please contact Dr Bill Lasley and Nancy Gee via email at nagee@ucdavis.edu or by phone at 530.752.2096.

The Primate Assay Laboratory offers antibody, antigen, virus, DNA, RNA and other diagnostic marker detection for a number of infectious agents. All methods and reagents are validated, standardized, and controlled by in-laboratory studies and proficiency testing using reference banks of characterized specimens. Quantitation is available by arrangement. Test results are reviewed by clinical laboratory personnel who are fully accredited by the American Society for Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Field Services of the State of California. Custom testing including immunological and virological assays, training, and consultation are available; please inquire. In addition, SIV virus stocks, reagents and controls are available through Resource Services. PAL is a resource for Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) colonies, field or epidemiological studies, research protocols, and atypical case resolution.

Click here for a SARS CoV2 testing and surveillance presentation

Click here for the latest PAL update December 2023

Primate Assay Laboratory

  • Specialty lab testing and expert consultation services to both the public and private sector. This includes local, regional, national and international research colonies; zoological collections; veterinary laboratories; and practices of all sizes.
  • Methods and reagents validated, standardized, and controlled by in-laboratory studies and proficiency testing.
  • Maintenance of reference banks of characterized specimens
  • All test results reviewed by qualified senior personnel prior to reporting
  • Resource for development and maintenance of Specific Pathogen-free (SPF) colonies
  • Resource for field or epidemiological studies
  • Resource for laboratory baseline and monitoring of animals on research studies
  • Resource for unusual or atypical diagnostic cases

Select Publications from PAL Activities

Yee, JL, Van Rompay, KKA, Carpenter, AB, et al. SARS‐CoV‐2 surveillance for a non‐human primate breeding research facility. J Med Primatol. 2020; 00: 1– 10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmp.12483
Yee JL, Grant RF, Van Rompay KKA, Roberts JA, Kuller L, Cunningham JL, Simmons JH, Papin JF. In vitro and In vivo Susceptibility of Baboons (Papio sp.) to Infection with and Apparent Antibody Reactivity to Simian Betaretrovirus (SRV). Comp Med. 2020 Feb 1;70(1):75-82. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-19-000014. Epub 2019 Nov 20. PubMed PMID: 31747991; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7024778.

Van Rompay KKA, Keesler RI, Ardeshir A, Watanabe J, Usachenko J, Singapuri A, Cruzen C, Bliss-Moreau E, Murphy AM, Yee JL, Webster H, Dennis M, Singh T, Heimsath H, Lemos D, Stuart J, Morabito KM, Foreman BM, Burgomaster KE, Noe AT, Dowd KA, Ball E, Woolard K, Presicce P, Kallapur SG, Permar SR, Foulds KE, Coffey LL, Pierson TC, Graham BS. DNA vaccination before conception protects Zika virus-exposed pregnant macaques against prolonged viremia and improves fetal outcomes. Sci Transl Med. 2019 Dec 18;11(523). doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay2736. PubMed PMID: 31852797; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7093037.

Borucki MK, Collette NM, Coffey LL, Van Rompay KKA, Hwang MH, Thissen JB, Allen JE, Zemla AT. Multiscale analysis for patterns of Zika virus genotype emergence, spread, and consequence. PLoS One. 2019;14(12):e0225699. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225699. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31809512; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6897431.

Robbiani DF, Olsen PC, Costa F, Wang Q, Oliveira TY, Nery N Jr, Aromolaran A, do Rosário MS, Sacramento GA, Cruz JS, Khouri R, Wunder EA Jr, Mattos A, de Paula Freitas B, Sarno M, Archanjo G, Daltro D, Carvalho GBS, Pimentel K, de Siqueira IC, de Almeida JRM, Henriques DF, Lima JA, Vasconcelos PFC, Schaefer- Babajew D, Azzopardi SA, Bozzacco L, Gazumyan A, Belfort R Jr, Alcântara AP, Carvalho G, Moreira L, Araujo K, Reis MG, Keesler RI, Coffey LL, Tisoncik-Go J, Gale M Jr, Rajagopal L, Adams Waldorf KM, Dudley DM, Simmons HA, Mejia A, O’Connor DH, Steinbach RJ, Haese N, Smith J, Lewis A, Colgin L, Roberts V, Frias A, Kelleher M, Hirsch A, Streblow DN, Rice CM, MacDonald MR, de Almeida ARP, Van Rompay KKA, Ko AI, Nussenzweig MC. Risk of Zika microcephaly correlates with features of maternal antibodies. J Exp Med. 2019 Oct 7;216(10):2302-2315. doi: 10.1084/jem.20191061. Epub 2019 Aug 14. PubMed PMID:
31413072; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6781003.

Pham HT, Hassounah S, Keele BF, Van Rompay KKA, Mesplède T. Insertion as a Resistance Mechanism Against Integrase Inhibitors in Several Retroviruses. Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 27;69(8):1460- 1461. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz136. PubMed PMID: 30753366; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7320072.

Goswami R, Nelson AN, Tu JJ, Dennis M, Feng L, Kumar A, Mangold J, Mangan RJ, Mattingly C, Curtis AD 2nd, Obregon-Perko V, Mavigner M, Pollara J, Shaw GM, Bar KJ, Chahroudi A, De Paris K, Chan C, Van Rompay KKA, Permar SR. Analytical Treatment Interruption after Short-Term Antiretroviral Therapy in a Postnatally Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Infant Rhesus Macaque Model. mBio. 2019 Sep 5;10(5). doi: 10.1128/mBio.01971-19. PubMed PMID: 31488511; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6945967.

Maness NJ, Schouest B, Singapuri A, Dennis M, Gilbert MH, Bohm RP, Schiro F, Aye PP, Baker K, Van Rompay KKA, Lackner AA, Bonaldo MC, Blair RV, Permar SR, Coffey LL, Panganiban AT, Magnani D. Postnatal Zika virus infection of nonhuman primate infants born to mothers infected with homologous Brazilian Zika virus. Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 5;9(1):12802. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019- 49209-7. PubMed PMID: 31488856; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6728326.

Yee JL, Prongay K, Miles B, Smedley J, Hansen SG, Axthelm MK, Ardeshir A, Van Rompay KKA, Timmel G, Roberts JA. Interferon- Gamma test for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in Macaca mulatta and other non-human primates. J Med Primatol. 2019 Aug;48(4):260-263. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12420. Epub 2019 May 6. PubMed PMID: 31056769; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7012381.

Christe KL, Salyards GW, Houghton SD, Ardeshir A, Yee JL. Modified Dose Efficacy Trial of a Canine Distemper-Measles Vaccine for Use in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 May 1;58(3):397-405. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-18-000091. Epub 2019 Mar 28. PubMed PMID: 30922419; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6526495.

Wang KY, Christe KL, Yee J, Roberts JA, Ardeshir A. Rotavirus is associated with decompensated diarrhea among young rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Am J Primatol. 2019 Jan;81(1):e22948. doi: 10.1002/ajp.22948. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Van Rompay KKA, Hassounah S, Keele BF, Lifson JD, Ardeshir A, Watanabe J, Pham HT, Chertova E, Sowder R, Balzarini J, Mesplède T, Wainberg MA. Dolutegravir Monotherapy of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques Selects for Several Patterns of Resistance Mutations with Variable Virological Outcomes. J Virol. 2019 Jan 4;93(2). pii: e01189-18. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01189-18. Print 2019 Jan 15. PubMed PMID: 30381490; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6321921.

Keeffe JR, Van Rompay KKA, Olsen PC, Wang Q, Gazumyan A, Azzopardi SA, Schaefer-Babajew D, Lee YE, Stuart JB, Singapuri A, Watanabe J, Usachenko J, Ardeshir A, Saeed M, Agudelo M, Eisenreich T, Bournazos S, Oliveira TY, Rice CM, Coffey LL, MacDonald MR, Bjorkman PJ, Nussenzweig MC, Robbiani DF. A Combination of Two Human Monoclonal Antibodies Prevents Zika Virus Escape Mutations in Non-human Primates. Cell Rep. 2018 Nov 6;25(6):1385-1394.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.031. PubMed PMID: 30403995; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6268006.

Dudley DM, Van Rompay KK, Coffey LL, Ardeshir A, Keesler RI, Bliss-Moreau E, Grigsby PL, Steinbach RJ, Hirsch AJ, MacAllister RP, Pecoraro HL, Colgin LM, Hodge T, Streblow DN, Tardif S, Patterson JL, Tamhankar M, Seferovic M, Aagaard KM, Martín CS, Chiu CY, Panganiban AT, Veazey RS, Wang X, Maness NJ, Gilbert MH, Bohm RP, Adams Waldorf KM, Gale M Jr, Rajagopal L, Hotchkiss CE, Mohr EL, Capuano SV 3rd, Simmons HA, Mejia A, Friedrich TC, Golos TG, O’Connor DH. Miscarriage and stillbirth following maternal Zika virus infection in nonhuman primates. Nat Med. 2018 Aug;24(8):1104-1107. doi: 10.1038/s41591-018-0088-5. Epub 2018 Jul 2. PubMed PMID: 29967348; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6082723.

Coffey LL, Keesler RI, Pesavento PA, Woolard K, Singapuri A, Watanabe J, Cruzen C, Christe KL, Usachenko J, Yee J, Heng VA, Bliss-Moreau E, Reader JR, von Morgenland W, Gibbons AM, Jackson K, Ardeshir A, Heimsath H, Permar S, Senthamaraikannan P, Presicce P, Kallapur SG, Linnen JM, Gao K, Orr R, MacGill T, McClure M, McFarland R, Morrison JH, Van Rompay KKA. Intraamniotic Zika virus inoculation of pregnant rhesus macaques produces fetal neurologic disease. Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 20;9(1):2414. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018- 04777-6. PubMed PMID: 29925843; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6010452. PubMed PMID: 30620103.

Yee JL, Grant R, Van Rompay KK, Kuller L, Carpenter A, Watanabe R, Huebner R, Agricola B, Smedley J, Roberts JA. Emerging diagnostic challenges and characteristics of simian betaretrovirus infections in captive macaque colonies. J Med Primatol. 2017 Aug;46(4):149-153. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12295. PubMed PMID: 28748661; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5559289.

Hwa CZR, Tsai SP, Yee JL, Van Rompay KK, Roberts JA. Evidence of simian retrovirus type D by polymerase chain reaction. J Med Primatol. 2017 Jun;46(3):79-86. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12266. Epub 2017 Mar 30. PubMed PMID: 28370081.

Coffey LL, Pesavento PA, Keesler RI, Singapuri A, Watanabe J, Watanabe R, Yee J, Bliss-Moreau E, Cruzen C, Christe KL, Reader JR, von Morgenland W, Gibbons AM, Allen AM, Linnen J, Gao K, Delwart E, Simmons G, Stone M, Lanteri M, Bakkour S, Busch M, Morrison J, Van Rompay KK. Zika Virus Tissue and Blood Compartmentalization in Acute Infection of Rhesus Macaques.PLoS One. 2017 Jan 31;12(1):e0171148. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171148. eCollection 2017. PubMed PMID: 28141843; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5283740.

Yee JL, Vanderford TH, Didier ES, Gray S, Lewis A, Roberts J, Taylor K, Bohm RP. Specific pathogen free macaque colonies: a review of principles and recent advances for viral testing and colony management. J Med Primatol. 2016 Apr;45(2):55-78. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12209. Epub 2016 Mar 1. Review. PubMed PMID: 26932456; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4801651.

Wang K‐Y, Christe KL, Yee J, Roberts JA, Ardeshir A. Rotavirus is associated with decompensated diarrhea among young rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Am J Primatol. 2019;81:e22948.

Evans TS, Barry PA, Gilard KV, Goldstein T, Deere JD, Fike J, Yee J, Ssebide BJ, Karmacharya D, Cranfield MR, Wolking D, Smith B, Mazet JAK, Johnson CK. Optimization of a novel non-invasive oral sampling technique for zoonotic pathogen surveillance in nonhuman primates. PLOS Published: June 5, 2015 •DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003813

Yee JL, NPRC Breeding Colony Management Consortium, McChesney MB, Christe KL. Multi-Center Safety and Immunogenicity Trial of an Attenuated Measles Vaccine (MVacTM) for Nonhuman Primates. Comp Med. 2015. In press.

Van Rompay KK, Hunter Z, Jayashankar K, Peabody J, Montefiori D, Labranche CC, Keele BF, Jensen K, Abel K, Chackerian B. A vaccine against CCR5 protects a subset of macaques upon intravaginal challenge with Simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac251. J Virol 88(4):2011-2024, 2014. PMID 24307581

Jensen K, Pena MG, Wilson RL, Ranganathan UD, Jacobs WR Jr, Fennelly G, Larsen M, Van Rompay KK, Kozlowski PA, Abel K. A neonatal oral Mycobacterium tuberculosis-SIV prime / intramuscular MVA-SIV boost combination vaccine induces both SIV and Mtb-specific immune responses in infant macaques. Trials Vaccinol 2:53-63, 2013. PMID 24454591

Tanaka T, Lerche NW, Farver TB, Ardeshir A, Kass PH. Specific-pathogen-free status is associated with lower infant mortality rate in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) colonies at the California National Primate Research Center. J Med Primatol 42(4):186-91, 2013. PMID 23586439

Lemoy MJ, Westworth DR, Ardeshir A, Tarara RP. Reference intervals for preprandial and postprandial serum bile acid in adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 52(4):444-7, 2013. PMCID: PMC3725928, PMID 23849441

Yee J, Montiel NA, Ardeshir A, Lerche NW. Constitutive release of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) infected with simian T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (STLV1). Comp Med. 63(6): 508-514. 2013.PMID 24326227

Ardeshir A, Oslund KL, Ventimiglia F, Yee J, Lerche NW, and Hyde DM. Idiopathic microscopic colitis of rhesus macaques: Quantitative assessment of colonic mucosa. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 296: 1169-1179, 2013. PMID 23775860

Jones-Engel L, Feeroz M, Soliven K, Small C, Engel G, Pacheco A, Yee J, Wang X, Hasa K, Oh G, Levine K, Alam S, Craig K, Jackson D, Lee E, Barry P, Lerche N, Escalante A, Matsen F, Lineal M. Population dynamics of rhesus macaques and associated foamy virus in Bangladesh. EMI 2013. PMCID: PMC3675400

Van Rompay KK. The use of nonhuman primate models of HIV infection for the evaluation of antiviral strategies. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 28(1):16-35, 2012. PMID 21902451

Jensen K, Ranganathan UDK, Van Rompay KKA, Canfield DR, Khan I, Ravindran R, Luciw PA, Jacobs WR, Fennelly G, Larsen M, and Abel K. A recombinant attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine strain is safe in immunosuppressed SIV-infected infant macaques. Clin Vaccine Immunol 19:1170-81 2012. PMCID: PMC3416096, PMID 22695156

Montiel NA, Todd PA, Yee J, and Lerche NW. Effects of simian betaretrovirus serotype 1 (SRV1) infection on the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (CD34+) derived from bone marrow of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 62: 61-68, 2012. PMCID: PMC3276394, PMID 22330653

Broadhurst MJ, Ardeshir A, Kanwar B, Mirpuri J, Gundra UM, Leung JM, Wiens KE, Vujkovic-Cvijin I, Kim CC, Yarovinsky F, Lerche NW, McCune JM, and Loke Pn. Therapeutic helminth infection of macaques with idiopathic chronic diarrhea alters the inflammatory signature and mucosal microbiota of the colon. PLoS Pathog 8: e1003000, 2012. PMCID: PMC3499566, PMID 23166490

Marthas ML, Van Rompay KK, Abbott Z, Earl P, Buonocore-Buzzelli L, Moss B, Rose NF, Rose JK, Kozlowski PA, Abel K. Partial efficacy of a VSV-SIV/MVA-SIV vaccine regimen against oral SIV challenge in infant macaques. Vaccine 29(17):3124-37, 2011. PMCID: PMC3078946, PMID 21377510

Kelly KR, Pypendop BH, Grayson JK, Stanley SD, Christe KL, Summers LM, and Lerche NW. Pharmacokinetics of oxymorphone in titi monkeys (Callicebus spp.) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 50: 212-20, 2011. PMCID: PMC3061422, PMID 21439215

Chen EC, Yagi S, Kelly KR, Mendoza SP, Tarara RP, Canfield DR, Maninger N, Rosenthal A, Spinner A, Bales KL, Schnurr DP, Lerche NW, and Chiu CY. Cross-species transmission of a novel adenovirus associated with a fulminant pneumonia outbreak in a new world monkey colony. PLoS Pathog 7: e1002155, 2011. PMCID: PMC3136464, PMID 21779173

White JA, Yang X, Todd PA, Lerche NW. Longitudinal patterns of viremia and oral shedding of rhesus rhadinovirus and retroperitoneal fibromatosis herpesviruses in age-structured captive breeding populations of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 61(1):60-70, 2011. PMCID: PMC3060420, PMID 21819683

Luciw PA, Oslund KL, Yang X-w, Adamson L, Ravindran R, Canfield DR, Tarara R, Hirst L, Christensen M, Lerche NW, Offenstein H, Lewinsohn D, Ventimiglia F, Brignolo L, Wisner ER, and Hyde DM. Stereologic analysis of bacterial load and lung lesions in nonhuman primates (rhesus macaques) experimentally infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 301: 731-738, 2011. PMCID: PMC3213984, PMID 21873450

Liao Q, Guo H, Tang M, Touzjian N, Lerche NW, Lu Y, and Yee JL. Simultaneous detection of antibodies to five simian viruses in nonhuman primates using recombinant viral protein based multiplex microbead immunoassays. J Virol Methods 178: 143-152, 2011. PMCID: PMC3213204, PMID 21945221

Van Rompay KK, Abel K, Earl P, Kozlowski PA, Easlick J, Moore J, Buonocore-Buzzelli L, Schmidt KA, Wilson RL, Simon I, Moss B, Rose N, Rose J and Marthas ML. Immunogenicity of viral vector, prime-boost SIV vaccine regimens in infant rhesus macaques: attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) recombinant SIV vaccines compared to live-attenuated SIV. Vaccine 28(6):1481-1492, 2010. PMCID: PMC2822069, PMID 19995539

von Gegerfelt A, Valentin A, Alicea C, Van Rompay KK, Marthas ML, Montefiori DC, Pavlakis GN, and Felber BK. Emergence of Simian immunodeficiency virus-specific cytotoxic CD4+ T Cells and increased humoral responses correlate with control of rebounding viremia in CD8-depleted macaques infected with rev-independent live-attenuated Simian immunodeficiency virus. J Immunol 185(6):3348-58, 2010. PMID 20702730

Winters MA, Van Rompay KK, Kashuba AD, Shulman NS, and Holodniy M. Maternal-fetal pharmacokinetics and dynamics of a single intrapartum dose of maraviroc in rhesus macaques. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 54(10):4059-4063, 2010. PMCID: PMC2944591, PMID 20696881

Van Rompay KK. Evaluation of antiretrovirals in animal models of HIV infection. Antiviral Res 85(1):159-175, 2010. PMID 19622373

Zao CL, Armstrong K, Tomanek L, Cooke A, Berger R, Estep JS, Marx PA, Trask JS, Smith DG, Yee JL, and Lerche NW. The complete genome and genetic characteristics of SRV-4 isolated from cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Virology 405: 390-396, 2010. PMCID: PMC2941434, PMID 20615522

Kanthaswamy S, Kou A, Satkoski J, Penedo MC, Ward T, Ng J, Gill L, Lerche NW, Erickson B J, and Smith DG. Genetic characterization of specific pathogen-free rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) populations at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC). Am J Primatol 72: 587-599, 2010. PMCID: PMC2941796, PMID 20162538

Oates-O’Brien RS, Farver TB, Anderson-Vicino KC, McCowan B, and Lerche NW. Predictors of matrilineal overthrows in large captive breeding groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 49: 196-201, 2010. PMCID: PMC2846008, PMID 20353695

Lerche NW. Simian retroviruses: infection and disease – implications for immunotoxicology research in primates. J Immunotoxicol 7: 93-101, 2010. PMID 20433415

Olivier KJ, Jr, Price KD, Hutto DL, Lerche NW, Mansfield KG, Simmons JH, Taylor K, Myers L P, Ouyang Y, and Evans EW. Naturally occurring infections in non-human primates (NHP) and immunotoxicity implications: discussion sessions. J Immunotoxicol 7: 138-146, 2010. PMID 20441554

Farkas T, Cross RW, Hargitt E, 3rd, Lerche NW, Morrow AL, and Sestak K. Genetic diversity and histo-blood group antigen interactions of rhesus enteric caliciviruses. J Virol 84: 8617-8625, 2010. PMCID: PMC2919043, PMID 20554772

Zao CL, Armstrong K, Tomanek L, Cooke A, Berger R, Estep JS, Marx PA, Trask JS, Smith DG, Yee JL, and Lerche NW. The complete genome and genetic characteristics of SRV-4 isolated from cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Virology 405: 390-396, 2010. PMCID: PMC2941434, PMID 20615522

Chen CI, Clark DC, Pesavento P, Lerche NW, Luciw PA, Reisen WK, and Brault AC. Comparative pathogenesis of epidemic and enzootic Chikungunya viruses in a pregnant rhesus macaque model. Am J Trop Med Hyg 83: 1249-1258, 2010. PMCID: PMC2990040, PMID 21118930

Durand-Gasselin L, Van Rompay KK, Vela JE, Henne IN, Lee WA, Rhodes GR, and Ray AS. Nucleotide analogue prodrug Tenofovir Disoproxil enhances lymphoid cell loading following oral administration in monkeys. Mol Pharm 6(4):1145-51, 2009. PMCID: PMC2777719, PMID 19545170

Fairman J, Moore J, Lemieux M, Van Rompay KK, Geng Y, Warner J, and Abel K. Enhanced in vivo immunogenicity of SIV vaccine candidates with cationic liposome-DNA complexes in a rhesus macaque pilot study. Hum Vaccin 5(3):141-50, 2009. PMCID: PMC2728146, PMID 18690014

Rosati M, Bergamaschi C, Valentin A, Kulkarni V, Jalah R, Alicea C, Patel V, von Gegerfelt AS, Montefiori DC, Venzon DJ, Khan AS, Draghia-Akli R, Van Rompay KK, Felber BK, and Pavlakis GN. DNA vaccination in rhesus macaques induces potent immune responses and decreases acute and chronic viremia after SIVmac251 challenge. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(37):15832-6, 2009. PMCID: PMC2734879, PMID 19717425

PAL FAQ’s

PAL Samples / Shipping Information

Please complete the following form(s) and email to PAL.

To avoid compatibility issues with different browsers and PDF software, we recommend that you save these forms to your computer before entering data; and then save or print a copy for your records.

  • Advanced scheduling is NOT necessary. However, for fastest turnaround advanced scheduling is recommended.
  • If you choose not to schedule in advance, please notify us when samples are sent so that we may confirm their arrival. For best results, you may also e-mail or fax us the submission form.
  • Our receiving is open Monday-Friday, 8am – 4pm except holidays.

 

To schedule samples call, fax or email:
PAL Staff at (530) 752-8242
Fax (530) 752-4816.
cnprc-pdl@ucdavis.edu

 Maximum turnaround time for results is 2 weeks for serology and PCR. Turnaround time for custom testing varies; please contact us for further information.

PAL Staff at (530) 752-8242
Fax (530) 752-4816.
PDL@primate.ucdavis.edu

All specimens must be accompanied by a completed submission form!

  • For serum or plasma:
  • The preferred specimen is at least 1 cc serum frozen in an externally threaded polypropylene cryo vial (i.e. Nunc #375418, Sarstedt #72.694). Do not overfill the vial. The vial should be labeled with a sample identification # and draw date. Specimens should be properly packed in a leakproof double walled container with absorbent material and ice packs or dry ice and shipped by overnight delivery.
  • For Whole Blood, EDTA Blood and Heperinized Blood:
  • The specimen requirement is 3 cc heparinized whole blood (use an appropriately sized tube for the volume so the Heparin/Blood ratio is correct) properly packed in a leakproof double walled container with absorbent material and shipped at ambient temperature by priority overnight delivery. Please email or fax completed submission form when the samples are sent.
  • Dry Blood Spots, DNA or Saliva may also be sent. Call or email for more information before shipping these sample types.

All packages must be addressed to:
JoAnn Yee
Primate Assay Laboratory
Primate Center
County Road 98 at Hutchison
University of California
Davis, CA 95616

All specimens must be accompanied by a completed submission form!

  • For Antibody Screens, Western Blots, IFA’s, ELISA’s, EIA’s send:
  • Serum or plasma
  • The preferred specimen is at least 1 cc serum frozen in an externally threaded polypropylene cryo vial (i.e. Nunc #375418, Sarstedt #72.694). Do not overfill the vial. The vial should be labeled with a sample identification # and draw date. Specimens should be properly packed in a leakproof double walled container with absorbent material and ice packs or dry ice and shipped by overnight delivery.
  • Whole Blood, EDTA Blood and Heperinized Blood
  • The specimen requirement is 3 cc heparinized whole blood (use an appropriately sized tube for the volume so the Heparin/Blood ratio is correct) properly packed in a leakproof double walled container with absorbent material and shipped at ambient temperature by priority overnight delivery. Please email or fax completed submission form when the samples are sent.
  • For PCR send:
  • Heperinized Blood:
  • The specimen requirement is 3 cc heparinized whole blood (use an appropriately sized tube for the volume so the Heparin/Blood ratio is correct) properly packed in a leakproof double walled container with absorbent material and shipped at ambient temperature by priority overnight delivery. Please email or fax completed submission form when the samples are sent.
  • For GIFN (TB):
  • Please contact laboratory personnel for sample collection instructions prior to drawing samples.
  • For custom testing or other:
  • Please contact laboratory personnel for sample collection instructions prior to drawing samples.
  • Dry Blood Spots, DNA or Saliva may also be sent.

Call or email for more information before shipping these sample types.

To schedule samples call, fax or email:
PAL Staff at (530) 752-8242
Fax (530) 752-4816.
cnprc-pdl@ucdavis.edu

Current Updates and Holiday Schedule

This year’s holidays are:

  • Nov 28- Dec 1, 2019
  • Dec 21, 2018 – Jan 2, 2019

We won’t be able to receive samples these dates unless you make arrangements in advance. Whenever you are shipping samples, it’s a good idea to let us know a package is coming so we can make sure it arrives and/or track it as needed before it is too late. This is especially true during holiday or inclement weather weeks- when shipping can be challenging even though we are open.

Happy New Year from PAL!

We look forward to continuing to provide laboratory testing to support your work this year. Our 2019 is off and running. We hope it’s off to a good start for all of you.

We are excited to announce that we are ready to begin accepting samples for our Gamma InterFeron TB Test (GIFT). As you know, Primagam was discontinued by its manufacturer and we have been working on an alternative. We have successfully completed initial validation studies with a limited number known Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex group uninfected and experimentally infected monkeys. A paper describing this work is being submitted for publication. The results to date indicate good performance characteristics; but to do more complete validation studies we need to test larger numbers of samples. Thus, we are ready to accept samples for testing at a reduced cost (materials without labor) if you agree to provide us with exposure, clinical, and other history related to possible tuberculosis. Please contact us so we can explain in more detail.

Primate Assay Laboratory

PAL was funded by NCRR under the direction of Dr. Lerche to develop and offer testing for nonhuman primates to develop specific pathogen free colonies and improve overall nonhuman primate colony health.

PAL now functions as both a research and diagnostic laboratory, and provides testing for SPF colonies.

Over the years, the assays developed by PDL have been widely applied and resulted in more accurate and efficient diagnostic tests leading to specific pathogen free and better characterized nonhuman primate colonies. PDL has also taken a leading role in technology transfer to other nonhuman primate institutions by providing training, characterized controls and reagents, and proficiency testing.

We strive at developing new and improved tests as science and technology advance leading to the discovery of new pathogens and more sophisticated technologies.