Skip to main content
Minnesota Department of Health logo
  • Main navigation

    • Home
    • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
    • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
    • Individual and Family Health
    • About Us
    • News and Announcements
    • Translated Materials

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
  • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
  • Individual and Family Health
  • About Us
  • News and Announcements
  • Translated Materials
MDH Logo

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Diseases and Conditions
  3. The Infectious Disease Laboratory
Topic Menu

Infectious Disease Laboratory

  • Infectious Disease Laboratory Home
  • CLIA Certificate
  • Contact Information
  • Fee Schedule
  • Forms
  • Guide to Services
  • Lab Disease Spotlight
  • MN Laboratory System (MLS)
  • New COVID-19 Submission Update
  • Packing & Shipping

Related Topics

  • Public Health Laboratory Home

Infectious Disease Laboratory

  • Infectious Disease Laboratory Home
  • CLIA Certificate
  • Contact Information
  • Fee Schedule
  • Forms
  • Guide to Services
  • Lab Disease Spotlight
  • MN Laboratory System (MLS)
  • New COVID-19 Submission Update
  • Packing & Shipping

Related Topics

  • Public Health Laboratory Home
Contact Info
Public Health Laboratory
651-201-5200
health.mdhlab@state.mn.us

Contact Info

Public Health Laboratory
651-201-5200
health.mdhlab@state.mn.us

`

Next-Generation Sequencing COVID-19 Sample Submission

Sending positive samples to the Infectious Disease Laboratory

March 2022 Update:

The Minnesota Public Health Lab’s Infectious Disease Lab (IDL) has been requesting that a proportion of specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2 be submitted for next generation sequencing (NGS) to better understand the emergence and trends of variants circulating in the community. 

Due to the changing dynamics of COVID-19 in Minnesota, we are now requesting an increase in submission of positive SARS-CoV-2 specimens for sequencing to maintain adequate surveillance for detecting new variants.

What to send: current guidance

All laboratories (regardless of size): Submit up to 10 specimens per week with a Ct ≤ 30.

In addition, send ALL positive specimens with a Ct value of ≤30 from:

  • hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 positive patients and
  • patients with failures of monoclonal antibody treatment.

If your testing platform does not generate a Ct value, please submit any positive specimens following the current guidance above.

How to send: CloudDrive description

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) CloudDrive application is a secure file drop location for standard batch submission spreadsheets. It was designed to make large submissions of 25 or more specimens less time-consuming.

Once your facility is approved, MDH will send you directions for logging into your account and the spreadsheet template for data submission. Files dropped into the CloudDrive will be accessible for 90 days.

CloudDrive login and upload directions (PDF)

If you are interested in using the CloudDrive to submit spreadsheets of 25 specimens or more for sequencing submission, please fill out the CloudDrive Submission Interest Form.

Results report

Patient test reports will not be generated for sequencing tests. Minnesota-focused subsampling data correlated by the CDC is available at Nextstrain.

Variant tracking and results reporting: While the Minnesota Department of Health is working internally to provide regular variant updates to the general public, the high-level Minnesota variant report will be shared with submitters via MLS on a bi-weekly basis.

Please Contact the Infectious Disease Laboratory with any questions.

Tags
  • infectious disease lab
Last Updated: 11/23/2022

Get email updates


Minnesota Department of Health logo

Privacy Policy
Equal Opportunity
Translated Materials
Contact Us
About MDH
Minnesota.gov
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of health print search share facebook instagram linkedin twitter youtube