ABBEY LANE LABORATORY, L.L.C.

Upon receipt of cultures, specimen information is recorded and any identification tags are scanned and stored in a computer database.  If  Chain of Custody paperwork is provided, it is filled out and a copy returned to the sender with our report.   All notes are recorded in duplicate and archived upon job completion.  All final reports are archieved on duplicate magnetic media.

Species or sub-species level identifications are determined from a combination of direct examination of materials, slide cultures, and physiological tests on diagnostic media.  It is our goal to provide you with the most complete diagnosis of the organisms sent for identification. 

Upon receipt of the sample, we perform a preliminary, cursory inspection of the organisms to determine the best way to provide cultural and environmental conditions necessary for complete identification.   Initially specimens are directly examined with transmission light microscopy from the sample if at all possible.  Subsamples are aseptically transferred to a number of diagnostic growth media on Petri dishes, and the dishes are placed in incubators and exposed to a specific day/night cycle using a unique combination of light wavelengths designed to cause the organisms to produce spores and other reproductive structures.  The reproductive structures are necessary for identification. 

We have extensive Company-held microscope slide collections, reference culture collections, and photomicrographs of both common and rarely found molds at our command.  In addition to our own extensive literature resources, we are within 15 minutes of Oregon State University, where the Gladys Valley Library houses a rich collection of mycological and other biological literature and journals. 

With over 30 years of experience in identification techniques for molds all over the world, including both Tropical and Temperate climates, buildings, contaminated foodstuffs, cleanroom contaminants, medical device contaminants and many other materials, we are able to provide you with a highly reliable identification in a timely manner.

We are a professional member of the Mycological Society of America and networked with the membership. We often share information about unusual fungi with the National Fungus Laboratory, part of the Agricultural Research Service, USDA. We also test out preliminary identification publications for that Laboratory. Abbey Lane Laboratory is located in an area where leading-edge mycological research is conducted at numerous Federal and State laboratories, including the Region 12 EPA laboratory and USDA Forestry Sciences Laboratory, whose libraries and resources are available to us.