Test Directory

• East Equine Enceph IgG
• East Equine Enceph IgM
• West Equine Enceph IgG
• West Equine Enceph IgM
• California Enceph IgM
• California Enceph IgG
• West Nile IgG CSF
• West Nile IgM CSF
• St Louis Enceph IgG
• St Louis Enceph IgM

Arbovirus is a term that refers to any virus transmitted by an arthropod (arthropod borne virus). Arboviruses include St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and California Encephalitis (CE). These are the major mosquito-borne viruses causing human disease in the United States. Infection by these viruses in humans induces an immune response and specific antibody production against the viral antigens.

Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal Fluid

Collection Container: Sterile, Non-additive Container (CSF) 

Desired Specimen Volume: 5 mL

1. Collect CSF via lumbar puncture.

1. Centrifuge CSF for 10 minutes to remove any cellular material.
2. Aliquot the CSF supernatant and transfer 5 mL of CSF to sterile aliquot tubes (screw cap).

Transport to the laboratory frozen. 

• Contaminated CSF
• Specimen outside of listed stability.

 See patient report.

Detection of arbovirus-specific antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may suggest central nervous system infection. However, because it is difficult to distinguish between intrathecal antibodies and serum antibodies introduced into the CSF sample at the time of lumbar puncture or from a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier, positive results should be interpreted in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical data prior to a diagnosis of central nervous system infection.