Laboratory for Molecular Typing (LMT)

Operating Status Due to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The Laboratory for Molecular Typing remains open and accepting submissions. We are operating with a reduced staff therefore, turn-around times may be affected. Prior to sending submissions, please e-mail us (dml10@cornell.edu or mw16@cornell.edu). Should you have further questions, or an emergency, please feel free to contact us as well.

Welcome to the home page for the Cornell University Laboratory for Molecular Typing

The Laboratory for Molecular Typing (LMT) is a fee-for-service facility within the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. The LMT, established in 1996 by Professor Carl A. Batt is currently under the direction of Professor Martin Wiedmann. While we follow PulseNet’s standard protocols, we are not a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PulseNet system.

The lab offers a wide variety of technologies to identify and characterize microorganisms to the genus, species, and subspecies level. Services are strictly confidential. We do not submit isolates or patterns to the CDC.

Discounts are available for educational institutions and companies within New York State. Researchers within Cornell University should contact the lab regarding pricing options. 

Services and fees: Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)

PFGE Typing uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PulseNet Protocol and BioNumerics Analysis Software to produce high quality, reproducible genetic fingerprints for pathogenic organisms, but our numbering system is separate from CDC PulseNet’s. We can provide electronic files if you want to submit our results to the CDC for comparison.

Fees:  All fees listed are cost per isolate. Effective May 1, 2020.

Pricing is based on our standard testing agreement. A 20% mark-up will be added for testing covered by specialized agreements.

Turn-around time:

For up to eight isolates, turn-around time is ten business days. For turn-around times on larger isolate sets or for faster turn-around times (additional fees apply) please contact us at dml10@cornell.edu.

Services and fees: Whole Genome Sequencing

Whole Genome Sequencing: Our standard whole genome sequence analysis service includes short read trimming and quality control, followed by de novo genome assembly and quality control. Depending on the species, we can perform in silico MLST typing and serotyping. For orders of multiple WGS sequences that our clients wish to compare, we also perform SNP identification. These analyses are highly scalable and can be effectively carried out for hundreds of genomes at a time. We use the identified SNPs to visualize the genetic relationships among analyzed isolates by constructing phylogenetic trees.

Additionally, we can prepare an individualized plan of analyses to fit your requirements. These analyses can include a high quality whole genome annotation, detection of presence/absence of genes of interest (e.g. antimicrobial resistance, virulence, metabolic pathway genes) and analysis of their variability. Additional fees apply for these analyses.

Fees:  All fees listed are cost per isolate.

Pricing is based on our standard testing agreement. A 20% mark-up will be added for testing covered by specialized agreements.

The LMT offers additional subtyping services for select food borne pathogens, including MLST. Please contact Shelley Clark (dml10@cornell.edu) for more information. 

Turn-around time:

Dependent on number of isolates submitted. Generally, (for up to 24 isolates) results for Salmonella and Listeria are ready in approximately three weeks. Other bacterial pathogens will be ready in approximately four weeks.

We also offer WGS for fungi. Results are reported in approximately four weeks. For pricing information for fungi, please contact Dr. Wiedmann.

Should you require faster turnaround times, have larger isolate sets, or need more information, please contact Dr. Wiedmann for more information.