Test Directory

Based on specimen source, viruses to be detected by cytopathic effect and/or antibody staining include:

• Adenovirus
• CMV
• Enteroviruses
• HSV
• Influenza
• Parainfluenza
• RSV and V-Z cell culture

Aid in the diagnosis of viral diseases (eg, conjunctivitis, congenital viral infections, keratitis, chickenpox, shingles, viral pneumonia, and diseases characterized by skin vesicles and rashes).

Blood:

1. Collect a green top sodium heparin tube via venipuncture.

CSF

1. Collect CSF specimen via lumbar puncture.

Skin Lesion or Genital Swab

1. Open the vesicle and absorb exudate into a dry swab and/or vigorously scrape base of freshly exposed lesion with a swab to obtain cells that contain viruses.

Eye Swab or Scraping

1. Collect conjunctival material via viral swab.

Rectal

1.   Insert a sterile swab 2” to 4” into the rectum and rub the mucosa.

Throat

1. Carefully rub the posterior wall of the nasopharynx with a dry, sterile swab.
2. Avoid touching the tongue or buccal mucosa.

Stool

1. Collect 4 to 8 g of feces (about the size of a thumbnail).

Tissue

1. Use a fresh set of sterile instruments to collect each tissue.
2. Autopsy material should be collected in sterile containers.

Urine

1. Collect clean-catch, midstream urine in a plastic container (preservative free).

*Viral cultures: Specimens should be collected in the acute stage of the illness

Blood:

1. Transport 5 mL of whole blood in the original collection container. Maintain at room temperature.

CSF

1. Transfer 1 mL of CSF to a sterile clear aliquot tube (screw cap).

Skin Lesion or Genital Swab

1.  If enough vesicle fluid is available, aspirate the fluid with a fine gauge needle and tuberculin syringe.
2. Place the fluid into a viral transport medium (VTM). Use viral swabs for specimen collection.
3. Swabs of lesions should be rinsed immediately into 1 or 2 mL of viral transport medium; preferably, the swab should be broken off into the medium

Eye Swab or Scraping

1. Take conjunctival scrapings with a fine sterile spatula and transfer the scraping to a viral transport medium (VTM).

Rectal

1. Place swab into a viral transport medium (VTM).

Throat

1. Place swab into a viral transport medium (VTM).
2. Swabs of throat should be rinsed immediately into 1 or 2 mL of viral transport medium; preferably, the swab should be broken off into the medium

Stool

1. Transport the stool in a plastic container (preservative free).
2. Do not dilute the specimen or use preservatives.

Tissue

1. Place each specimen in its own dry, sterile nontoxic screw-cap plastic container.
2. To prevent the tissue from drying out, add a small amount of viral transport medium to the container.
3. Identify the type of tissue on the container.

Urine

1. Transfer 1 mL of urine to a clear aliquot tube (screw cap).

*Submit one specimen per test requested. Specify the exact specimen source/origin (eg, genital lesion).

*Provide date of onset, relevant vaccinations, and pertinent clinical history if available.

Transport to laboratory refrigerated.

Transport whole blood at room temperature.

• Bacterial swab specimen
• Specimen received in grossly leaking transport container
• Dry specimen
• Specimen submitted in fixative or additive
• Specimen received in expired transport media or incorrect or non-validated transport device
• Inappropriate specimen transport conditions
• Specimen received after prolonged delay in transport (usually more than 72 hours)
• Specimen types other than blood stored or transported at room temperature
• Wooden shaft swab in transport device
• Unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label
• Hemolyzed blood sample

See patient report.

Many common viruses cannot be recovered in viral culture. A negative viral culture result does not preclude viral infection. Examples of viruses that are not routinely recovered in culture include: Coxsackie A virus, hepatitis viruses, arboviruses, parvoviruses, human papillomaviruses and gastrointestinal viruses (rotavirus, coronavirus, calicivirus, astrovirus, sapovirus and norovirus).

Positive cultures may be sent to state health departments for specific virus identification.

• Culture, Viral, General
• General Viral Culture
• Routine Viral Culture
• Virus Culture/Isolation