We strive to respond to all calls and emails as quickly as possible. Because our laboratory processes samples daily, sample testing and reporting are our first priority. Response times may vary depending on the type and complexity of your question.

In general, you can expect:

• General questions or simple report changes: 1 business day 
• Specific test-related questions: 1–3 business days 
  • These questions may require our Customer Care team to consult with laboratory staff to provide an accurate answer.
• Test methodology or technical questions: Up to 5 business days
  • Technical questions may require review by our Seed Health Coordinator, who works closely with our laboratory testing operations. Allowing additional time helps ensure you receive a thorough and accurate response. 

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we balance customer inquiries with the daily processing and testing of your samples.

Seed Quality testing evaluates characteristics that affect the quality and performance of a seed lot. This includes testing such as germination, vigor, physical purity, noxious weed seed examinations, viability, and biotech trait testing.

Seed health testing refers to testing seed for the presence of disease-causing organisms, including plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, and nematodes. The results help meet phytosanitary regulations when sending seed internationally and minimize the risk of introducing a pathogen into a new region. We offer a full range of seed testing services, including blotter testing, bacterial dilution plating, seed wash and soak tests, grow-outs, PCR, ELISA, bioassay (virus indexing), and microscopic examination. Our seed purity lab provides testing for an extensive range of pests as well, including weed seeds, particularly parasitic weeds such as Striga and Orobanche, insects and the presence of soil.

The distinction is primarily what is being evaluated. For example, a fungal infection may affect the germination or vigor of a seed lot and therefore influence its seed quality, while Seed Health testing is used to determine whether a specific fungal pathogen is present.

“ISO/IEC 17025 enables laboratories to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and around the world.

It also helps facilitate cooperation between laboratories and other bodies by generating wider acceptance of results between countries. Test reports and certificates can be accepted from one country to another without the need for further testing, which, in turn, improves international trade.”

Our certification by an independent auditor means that the Iowa State University Seed Testing Laboratory has adopted—and follows—the absolute best possible procedures to benefit our customers. 

Iowa State University Seed lab received certification status on 3/6/2026.

An account will be created once we have received your first sample, and you will be assigned an account number. If you have conducted business with the Seed Lab in the past, your account number will appear on your test report or summary.

In order to open an account we must have 5 key information items indicated on the submission form (PDF):

1. Company/Customer name.
2. Contact name
3. Address
4. Email
5. Phone number

Contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

Please include your ISU Seed Laboratory account number on all correspondence and sample submissions. Providing your account number helps our Customer Care team quickly and accurately identify your account and process your samples.

This is especially important because we have customers who may have the same or similar company names but different addresses. Your account number helps ensure that your samples and correspondence are associated with the correct account.

Including your account number also helps our Customer Care team respond to your email or phone inquiries more quickly by allowing us to locate your account/samples right away.

Your ISU Seed Laboratory account number begins with CST-00XXXXX.

Not sure of your account number? No problem! Contact our Customer Care team at seedlab@iastate.edu or 515-294-6826, and we will be happy to provide it.

Place your packaged samples and submission form (PDF) in a padded box.

Please make sure to provide the following information on your form:

1. Account Number (if current customer)
2. Company name (if any)
3. Contact person
4. Address
5. Email address
6. Phone number

Ship your samples to:

ISU Seed Laboratory
Attn: Customer Care
109 Seed Science Center
2115 Osborn Drive
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-1050

Contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu if you have questions.

• Pre-Printed Sample Bags Provided by the ISU Seed Lab: Bags are available at no charge by contacting ISU Seed Lab Customer Care. If bag requests exceeds 10 sample bags, we ask that you cover the shipping cost. Email your shipping label or shipping account number to seedlab@iastate.edu. We can bill the amount of shipping to you through an upcoming sample. Please advise how you would like to proceed with this when requesting sample bags.
• Farmers: Visit your county Extension office.
• Using Your Own Container: We ask that all samples are sent in a well-marked, clean and securely sealed bag. Quart or gallon size baggies are best depending on the number of seeds. They should be marked with identifying information like:
  • Account # (if you have one)
    Company Name, Address, Phone Number
    Crop, Variety, Lot
    Tests Requested

Please contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu if you need further assistance.

Explore additional details regarding How Much Seed Should I Send?

The ISU Seed Laboratory offers a convenient online customer portal called myCySeed, giving you easy access to your sample information anytime, anywhere.

Through myCySeed, you can view the status of your samples in real time, including:

• When your sample was received
• When testing started
• The estimated completion date
• Preliminary test results as they become available

You can also export your sample information to Excel, allowing you to sort, filter, and organize the data to fit your needs.

Once all requested testing is complete, your official Report of Analysis (ROA) will be available electronically through myCySeed.

Please Note: For samples requiring multiple tests, the Report of Analysis will not be available until all requested tests are completed. The ROA is considered the official report only after all testing associated with the sample has been completed.

To gain access to the myCySeed portal, please contact Customer Care at seedlab@iastate.edu or 515-294-6826.

The Iowa State University Seed Laboratory conducts many types of tests on more than 300 species of seed. A partial list of tests appears on the Testing Methods page. Contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 for more information about the tests we offer.

• AOSA — (Association of Official Seed Analysts) Rules for Testing Seeds for domestic and international seed movement.
• ISTA — (International Seed Testing Association) for international movement of seed.
• Canadian M &P — Seed to be shipped into Canada.
• NSHS — (National Seed Health System) – phytosanitary testing
• Biotech Trait Providers requirements — trait testing

Our ISO 17025 certification is our guarantee to our customers that  rigorous standards are consistently applied to every test we perform.

Find a list of all our tests and their associated costs on our Pricing List webpage.

We can provide estimates for seed health testing. Email seedlab@iastate.edu with the crop and the tests you need, and we’ll provide an estimate.

Please allow 1–2 business days for a response, depending on current laboratory volume.

ISU Seed Lab does not offer RUSH services as a general practice. Let’s be honest, everyone wants their results as quickly as possible! If you have an extenuating circumstance, please reach out to Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or by email seedlab@iastate.edu and we will see if there is anything we can do.

You may choose from the following options to receive test results:

• Mailed hard copies
• E-mail
• Spreadsheets in your secure myCySeed Client Portal

Labeling requirements require the following tests:

• Purity
• Standard (Warm) Germination
• Noxious Weed Exam

All submitted samples are retained for one year following testing; however, sample retention does not determine how long test results remain current.

Germination results are time-sensitive and may be subject to state or federal requirements regarding test date, so updated germination testing generally requires a new representative sample from the seed lot. Some additional testing, such as purity or noxious weed examinations, may be possible using the retained sample.

Pest and Disease Inspection (P&D) per APHIS If the country does not specify a time limit, inspections should not be done more than 30 days before export.

Seed health test results are generally valid for as long as the specific seed lot remains unchanged or exists. However, additional testing may be required if testing protocols or requirements have changed since the original testing. This may occur when country-specific import requirements are updated or differ from the original testing requirements.

As of October 1, 2026, the Iowa State University Seed Lab will archive testing Report of Analysis (ROA) documents for 10 years from the date of results.

All international shipments should be sent Delivery Duty Paid (DDP). DDP = The customer pays the shipping, import duties, taxes, and customs-related costs, and the lab receives the package without having to handle those charges.

Information regarding Red/White labels and our Diagnostic Permit for shipping can be obtained by contacting damayfie@iastate.edu.

Seed Quality testing evaluates characteristics that affect the quality and performance of a seed lot. This includes testing such as germination, vigor, physical purity, noxious weed seed examinations, viability, and biotech trait testing. 

Explore How Much Seed Should I Send? for more details.

Yes. The ISU Seed Lab can perform seed testing according to International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Rules and report the results on an ISU Report of Analysis. However, the ISU Seed Lab is not ISTA-accredited and cannot issue ISTA Orange International Seed Lot Certificates (OICs) or Blue International Seed Sample Certificates (BICs). Customers who specifically require an OIC or BIC must work with an ISTA-accredited laboratory authorized to issue those certificates.

Turnaround time varies depending on the crop and testing requested. For corn and soybean samples, we guarantee planting by the next business day after receipt when Purity Analysis and Noxious Weed Seed Examination are not requested, and within two business days when those tests are requested.

For other crops, we generally aim to begin germination testing within 7 days of receipt, although unusually high sample volumes may extend this timeframe.

Once testing begins, test duration varies by species and method. Expected test durations are listed on the individual Testing Methods pages.

Seed labeling requirements vary depending on where the seed will be sold or distributed. For many agricultural and vegetable seeds, the information required for labeling is obtained through Purity Analysis, Standard Germination, and Noxious Weed Seed Examination. Additional or different testing may be required depending on the species and jurisdiction.

Seed sellers are responsible for ensuring that their seed is tested and labeled in accordance with applicable federal and state seed laws.

Seed health testing refers to testing seed for the presence of disease-causing organisms, including plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, and nematodes. The results help meet phytosanitary regulations when sending seed internationally and minimize the risk of introducing a pathogen into a new region. We offer a full range of seed testing services, including blotter testing, bacterial dilution plating, seed wash and soak tests, grow-outs, PCR, ELISA, bioassay (virus indexing), and microscopic examination. Our seed purity lab provides testing for an extensive range of pests as well, including weed seeds, particularly parasitic weeds such as Striga and Orobanche, insects and the presence of soil.

There is no simple answer, as the amount of seed needed depends on several factors, including the crop, the target pathogen, and the types of tests requested (e.g., blotter, seed wash, bacterial plating, or PCR). It is important to note that the same seeds generally cannot be used across multiple test types. For example, seeds used for a blotter test cannot then be re-used for an ELISA test or bacterial plating, but all ELISA tests can use the same seed. Some countries, such as Australia, specify the exact number of tomato or pepper seeds to be tested. Requirements can therefore vary depending on the intended destination and the tests being performed.

If you are unsure how many seeds to submit, we encourage you to contact us before sending samples. If you send a list of the pathogens to our office staff at seedlab@iastate.edu, they can provide an estimate of the ideal seed quantity for each test. If seed supply is very limited, we may default to testing 10% of the seed lot.

A phytosanitary certificate,  often called phyto, is an official government document verifying that a shipment of seeds, plants, plant products, or other regulated agricultural materials meets the plant health requirements of the destination country. The certificate is issued by the appropriate government authority and is used to facilitate the international movement of agricultural products.

No. A phytosanitary certificate (PC) can only be issued by an authorized state or federal official as designated under the authority of USDA-APHIS-PPQ. However, our laboratory's seed health testing reports can be used to obtain a PC. 

1. Do you have an import permit from the destination country? 

If yes, the document should list any specific requirements, often under a section called Additional Declarations. 

If no, contact your state Department of Agriculture or an export specialist. Find the specialist in your state for questions about export requirements.

The lab is not able to advise which tests are needed for the destination country as regulations can change.

2. Submit seed samples to the ISU Seed Laboratory.

Send your officially sampled samples to our laboratory along with a completed submission form indicating the tests needed.

3. Receive your Report of Analysis (ROA).

Once testing is complete, the ISU Seed Laboratory will provide you with a Report of Analysis (ROA) documenting the test results.

4. Apply for your phytosanitary certificate.

After receiving your ROA, you can apply for a phytosanitary certificate through the USDA's Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking System (PCIT) or contact an official from your state department of Agriculture. In California, authorized certification officials are usually at the county level.

Important: Testing performed by the ISU Seed Laboratory does not guarantee that a phytosanitary certificate will be issued. Certificate requirements vary depending on the destination country.  

In general, customer care staff and lab staff are unable to advise which tests are needed for the destination country as regulations can change. 

Find the specialist in your State for questions about export requirements. 

For general information refer to the Phytosanitary Export Database.

Please be sure to use the scientific crop name when searching.

To access your myCySeed portal for the first time, contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu to obtain a password. An email will then be sent with instructions on how to log in and navigate the myCySeed Client Portal.

After receiving your password, to log in simply go to mycyseed.seed.iastate.edu and click on “sign in.”  Enter your account number as the Username and the Password.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu or the Lab Manager if you have any questions or comments about using the new myCySeed Client Portal.

• The date samples are received
• The sample number assigned each of your samples
• The starting date of various tests
• Real-time individual test results
• Estimated completion dates for testing in progress

Any column on the spreadsheet that includes a heading that appears underlined when your computer mouse (cursor) passes over it is a sortable column.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu or the Lab Manager if you have any questions or comments about using the myCySeed Client Portal.

Results for individual tests are available in real-time on myCySeed. Here’s how the process works:

• Estimated Completion Date: When a test begins, you will see an estimated completion date. Please note this is an estimate and not a guarantee, as additional time or follow-up testing may occasionally be required.
• Preliminary Results: Once a test is complete, preliminary results will immediately be available on myCySeed.
• Final Report: A final report will only be available after all tests for the sample have been completed.

We strive to provide results as quickly as possible. If you have questions or need updates, please contact Customer Care at 515-294-6826 or seedlab@iastate.edu.

Yes. Pdfs of test results are available online the evening of the day they are created, and remain stored thereafter in your myCySeed Client Portal.