Crews Repairing Water-Damaged Health Lab

ST. PAUL, (AP) - Cleanup continues after a heating system failure caused water damage and disrupted operations at the Minnesota Department of Health's laboratory.

The department said Tuesday that crews have stabilized heat in the building and begun repairing broken parts of the heating system.

Crews also are removing damaged building materials and repairing electrical equipment. The heating system is expected to be fully restored Wednesday.

Officials say the infectious disease and newborn screening labs may be able to reopen Wednesday. But the second-floor environmental lab sustained the worst damage and will take longer to repair.

Lab officials say no samples or specimens, which are kept in secure storage units, were lost or damaged in the water leaks. But testing on those samples could be delayed, affecting the validity of test results.