TESTING INFORMATION
Please
note that due to current testing demands the Los Angeles
County Public Health Laboratory (LAC-PHL) is only
accepting specimens from patients in the following
categories:
-
Specimens from hospitalized ICU patients
-
Specimens from fatal cases of Influenza Like
Illness (ILI)
-
Specimens from outbreaks or cluster of cases
with ILI
-
Specimens from designated surveillance sites
The LAC-PHL
will test these specimens for Pandemic Influenza A and
Seasonal Influenza A by Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR).
Specimens testing negative for pandemic flu but positive
for seasonal flu A will be sub-typed as H1N1 or H3N2.
Specimens testing negative for Influenza A virus will be
further analyzed for Influenza B Virus. Selected
specimens testing negative for Influenza A and B Viruses
will be tested by Luminex RVP Multiplex PCR or culture
for the presence of other respiratory viruses.
COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS AND STORAGE
Specimen Collection
-
Specimens should be collected within the first
24-72 hours of onset of symptoms and no later
than 5 days after onset of symptoms.
-
Nasopharyngeal swabs and nasal aspirates are
preferable. Use nasopharyngeal swabs with
synthetic tip and aluminum or plastic shaft.
Examples: Dacron® or polyester swabs (Cotton
swabs and calcium alginate are not acceptable).
-
Place
the swab in liquid viral transport media. Gel
based Viral Transport media are not acceptable.
-
Label specimen tube clearly with patient information.
Storing and Transport of
Clinical Specimens
-
Immediately place collected specimen tube on ice or cold packs or at 4°C (refrigerator).
-
Transport to the laboratory on wet ice or cold packs in appropriate packaging.
-
All Respiratory specimens should be kept at 4°C
for no longer than 3 days. If delay, is
anticipated, specimen must be frozen at -70°C and shipped on dry ice.
PHL Test Request Form
-
Fill out the LAC-PHL Test Request form
completely with patient information, specimen
source, name of physician ordering the test and
hospital or facility name.
-
Please indicate patient category referenced in above 1-4. Specimens
from categories other than those referenced will not be tested
-
Please use
"Request Form for Pandemic Influenza A H1N1 2009 and Other Influenza Viruses"
-
For Health Care facilities with Sunquest direct
test order access, please use test order code
“PSFPCR” – Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza by PCR.
RESULT REPORTING
-
For sites interfaced with LAC-PHL, results can
be accessed in the SunQuest software.
-
Results can be faxed to approved submitters with
an approved secure fax.
-
Please complete the
Facsimile Test Result
Agreement Form and return via FAX.
For information regarding routine virus culture and
identification, please refer to the Los Angeles County
Public Health Laboratory (LAC-PHL) Virology Unit for
submission and specimen criteria online at
http://www.ph.lacounty.gov/lab/
