Seed Laboratory

• Learn how to use the Testing Turnaround Time Report here.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Germination Unit is PLANTING SAMPLES FROM MAR 14 - 18
purity unit is WORKING ON REGULAR PURITY SAMPLES FROM MAR 19 & 20
turnaround time for tz tests is approximately 2 - 3 business days

Numbers below represent Certified and Non-Certified samples (new + retests) that are in the
PURITY testing process, and include samples/retests that arrived late in the day. 

**This is an estimate only. The actual turn-around time for a test will depend on multiple factors and can vary day-to-day. 

Number of samples completed by the Purity Unit on March 20, including rushes: 38

*Includes weekends. If needed, contact the Lab for an estimated completion date of your test.
Samples and re-test requests that arrive after 4:00 pm are dated the following business day. Additional fees apply when requesting rush service, please contact the lab for current rush availability and turnaround times.

Regular Speed of Seed Testing

What is the regular speed of testing at the Lab?

The regular speed depends on the number of samples currently in process at the Lab. Samples are tested in the order in which they arrive. Turnaround times range from a few days in the slower season (winter and spring) to a week at the peak of the busy season (summer and fall). The Turnaround Time page above, which is updated daily, has current information on how many samples are in the purity testing process, and the date of arrival of the samples the Purity and Germination Departments are currently working on. 

Can I rush my sample?

We offer rush and a super rush services for additional fees. Purity results will be available in approximately 1-2 working days after the rush request is received. Purity results will be available in approximately 1 day after the super rush request is received. When a rush or super rush sample also has tests ordered such as tetrazolium and germination, these are included in the rush service without additional charge to the customers. Please note that some tests are not able to be rushed, and that during the peak of our busy season (July-Sept) the availability of rush/super rush services on a particular day may be reduced if a high volume of rush/super rush requests are received. The fee for rush and super rush service can be found on the testing fees page.

Does my sample have to be pre-chilled for germination?

Pre-chilling (or cold stratification) is a method of breaking or reducing dormancy and is required by the testing rules for fresh and dormant seed of many species (see the table below). Any deviation from the prescribed rule is noted on the testing report. If you wish a sample to not be chilled, indicate "no chill" VERY CLEARLY on the sample. Be aware that your germination results may be poor if your seed has a high level of dormancy and is not pre-chilled.

How long until I get my germination test results?

The duration of a germination test is determined by the testing rules. It varies for each species and may be different for AOSA or ISTA rules. We do a count every 7-days on nearly all species (e.g. species requiring a 10-day final count do not get a 7-day preliminary count). Tests are finished early if the sample has reached its full germination potential (i.e. no fresh seeds remain). Germination is a natural process and determining if a sample has reached its full germination potential before or by the end of the prescribed time is at the discretion of the analyst. The table below lists AOSA germination durations for commonly tested crops. Please contact us for ISTA duration rules. 

How long does TZ take?

Tetrazolium (TZ) results are usually available within 1-2 business days. Exceptions to this fast process are highly contaminated samples and some native species. If the TZ test is completed before the purity test, it will be reported with the purity report.

What can I do to ensure the quickest test results?

Several things can contribute to faster processing of any sample without ordering a rush: clear and accurate sample identification, ordering all tests at once, entering samples on the OSU Seed Services website, ordering Crop and Weed exam with the original purity so that it can be converted to UGS or Sod Quality report (for many species) on short notice.