Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed transport medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not applicable
Turn Around Time: 7 days
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in anaerobic tubed medium such as Anaerobic Thio, Amies (with charcoal) transport medium, PORT-A-CUL tubes, etc.. Plates not accepted.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not applicable
Turn Around Time: 7 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 5 Days; Refrigerated: 5 Days; Frozen: >5 Days
Normal Value: West Nile Virus EIA - Negative; Western Equine, Eastern Equine, St. Louis, California Group IFA < 1:16
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Acceptable Specimen: Isolate in appropriate tubed transport medium or a piece of agar with growth and send in a sterile container. Plates are not accepted. Cutaneous collect in vesicular fluid with sterile swab or collect from beneath the eschar. Gastrointestinal collect blood, stool, or rectal swabs. Inhalational collect blood.
Transport: Cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalational at room temperature.
Turn Around Time: 1 to 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: Nasopharyngeal specimen, in universal transport media, provided in kit.
This Helicase-Dependent Ampliflication (HDA) assay simultaneously tests for the following pathogens: Bordetella parapertussis and Bordetella pertussis
Click here for collection instructions.
Click here for collection kits.
Stability: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen: 5 months
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute and convalescent sample phase sera recommended (at least 14 days apart)
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 4 hours; Frozen: >4 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: Isolate in appropriate tubed transport medium or a piece of agar with growth and send in a sterile container. Plates are not accepted. For primary isolation and PCR, collect blood or bone marrow
Transport: Room temperature
Turn Around Time: 7 days
Acceptable Specimen: Isolate in appropriate tubed transport medium or a piece of agar with growth and send in a sterile container. Plates are not accepted.
Transport: Blood, bone marrow, sputum, abscess and wound swabs, urine transport blood room temp; all others transport at 2 to 8°C
Turn Around Time: 1 to 2 days
Refer to Arboviral Encephalitis Panel
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
Stability: Ambient: 10 days; Refrigerated: 10 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not applicable
Turn Around Time: 1 week
Acceptable Specimen: Rectal swab specimen collected with BD BBL liquid Stuart’s dual culture swab
Stability: Ambient: 5 days; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA-48, and IMP Not Detected
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
*Please submit antimicrobial susceptibility results from instrument printout.
A report containing test results to support infection prevention measures will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: Endocervical, oral, rectal, urine, throat, vaginal, or male urethral specimen in Hologic multi specimen collection kit
Click here for collection instructions.
Click here for collection kits.
Stability: Ambient: 60 days; Refrigerated: 60 days
Stability: Urine Ambient: 30 days; Refrigerated: 30 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Contact Laboratory Services for specific recommendation regarding collection and transportation.
All testing will be performed by the Minnesota Department of Health and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Turn Around Time: Procedure dependent
See SARS-CoV-2
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
A report with the organism identification will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Refer to Arboviral Encephalitis Panel
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 days; Frozen: >2 days
Normal Value: <1:8 or Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Nasopharyngeal, skin lesion material, and throat in viral transport medium. CSF and stool in sterile container.
Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
*Facilities using molecular methods without conventional culture may send original stool sample.
*Cultures of verotoxigenic E. coli need to be shipped as a Category A specimen.
A report with serotyping results will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 days; Frozen: >2 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute and convalescent (3 weeks post onset) phase sera
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 4 hours; Frozen: >4 hours
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: Isolate in appropriate tubed transport medium or a piece of agar with growth and send in a sterile container. Plates are not accepted. For primary isolation and PCR collect blood, biopsied tissue or ulcer scraping.
Transport: Blood at room temperature. Tissue and ulcer samples at 2 to 8°C
Turn Around Time: 2 to 4 days
Acceptable Specimen: Sterile containers or on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Plates will not be accepted. Contact Laboratory Services for assistance with systemic isolates such as histoplasma, coccidioides and blastomyces.
Stability: Ambient: 10 days; Refrigerated: 10 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: No fungi isolated
Turn Around Time: Negative culture - 2 weeks; Positive culture - 2 to 6 weeks
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in tubed medium such as Sabouraud Dextrose Agar or Amies transport medium. Plates not accepted. Contact Laboratory Services for assistance with systemic isolates such as histoplasma, coccidioides and blastomyces.
Stability: Ambient: 10 days; Refrigerated: 10 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not applicable
Turn Around Time: 2 to 6 weeks
Acceptable Specimen: 1 ml stool in Cary-Blair medium
This assay simultaneously tests for the following pathogens: Adenovirus F (40/41), Astrovirus, Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile toxin (A/B), Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica, Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) lt/st, Giardia lamblia, Norovirus (GI/GII), Plesiomonas shigelloides, Rotavirus A, Salmonella, Sapovirus, Shiga-like toxin producing E.coli (STEC) stx1/stx2, Escherichia coli 0157, Shigella/Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), Vibrio, Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia enterocolitica
Stability: Stool in Cary Blair - Ambient: 4 days; Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not Detected
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
The isolate will be forwarded to Minnesota Public Health Laboratory for testing.
A report with serotyping results will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Handling fees are dependent on test requested. Call Laboratory Services for test specific handling fee information.
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: >5 days
Normal Value: Negative
*Positive results are sent to CDC for Confirmation.
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 4 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 4 days; Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen: >4 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Positive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 3 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Confirmatory testing will be performed, at no additional charge, on all reactive specimens
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 4 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
*Positive tests will reflex to Hepatitis C Virus RNA
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 3 ml serum or 5 ml whole blood
Stability: Serum - Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: >3 days
Stability: Whole Blood - Ambient: 6 hours; Refrigerated: 6 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not Applicable
Turn Around Time: Weekly
Acceptable Specimen: 3 ml serum or 5 ml whole blood
Stability: Serum - Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: >5 days
Stability: Whole Blood - Ambient: 6 hours; Refrigerated: 6 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not Detected
Turn Around Time: Weekly
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 days; Frozen: >2 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Swab, in viral transport medium, from any lesion.
Stability: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 7 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 mL serum (Qualitative) or plasma (Quantitative); tubes containing ETDA or Acid Citrate Dextrose (ACD) anticoagulants or Plasma Preparation Tubes (PPTs)
Stability: Primary Tube- Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Stability: Secondary Tube- Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: 90 days
Normal Value: Not Detected
Turn Around Time: Weekly
Acceptable Specimen: 3 ml serum or plasma
Stability: Ambient: 3 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
*Confirmatory testing will be performed, at no additional charge, on all reactive specimens following current CDC and CLSI guidelines for 4th Generation HIV Ab/Ag Combo tests.
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 1 ml serum or plasma
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
| Normal Value: | Measles IgG > 1:16 |
| Mumps IgG > 1:16 | |
| Rubella - Positive | |
| Varicella IgG > 1:16 |
Turn Around Time: Tuesday and Thursday
Acceptable Specimen: Nasopharyngeal swab in viral transport medium or universal transport media.
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not detected
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Acceptable Specimen: Specimen in 1.5ml to 3ml viral transport medium. Refer to Specimen Collection and Handling Section for instructions.
Click here for collection kits.
Sub-typing: A - H3, 2009H1N1
Sub-typing: B - Yamagata, Victoria
Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Not Applicable
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Acceptable Specimen: Bronchial, lung, sputum, tissue in sterile container
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 7 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml of serum
Stability: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Whole blood sample in EDTA prior to treatment plus thick and thin blood films made from fresh blood or EDTA (if prepared within one hour) if available.
The sample will be forwarded to CDC for species confirmation and evaluation of emerging drug resistance.
A report will be issued to the submitting facility.
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: <1:8
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Refrigerated: 9 days; Frozen: >9 days
Normal Value: Positive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Nasopharyngeal swabs (preferred) or aspirates, nasal swabs, throat swabs, in viral transport medium. 50 ml urine in sterile container.
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: >3 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Refer to Orthopox (Monkeypox) Panel PCR
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: <1:8
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Refrigerated: 9 days; Frozen: >9 days
Normal Value: Positive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Buccal swabs (preferred), throat swabs, and nasopharyngeal swabs or aspirates in viral transport medium. Urine in sterile container. Molecular grade swabs only. Dacron or rayon swabs with plastic or metal shafts only. Calcium alginate swab and cotton swabs with wooden shafts are unacceptable.
Click here for collection instructions
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: >3
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: Sterile container
Contact Laboratory Services for collection and mailing kit.
Click here for Specimen Collection and Handling instructions.
All new positive mycobacterium direct smears on sputum, bronchial lavage, and bronchial wash samples will automatically reflex to perform the Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampin PCR test.
Stability: Whole Blood/Bone Marrow - Ambient: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Stability: Other - Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Mycobacteria Culture - No Mycobacteria isolated; AFB Smear - No AFB seen
Turn Around Time: 2 to 8 weeks
Acceptable Specimen: Isolate on tubed solid medium such as LJ slants, 7H10 slants, etc. Plates or liquid medium not accepted.
Stability: Ambient: 4 days; Refrigerated: 7 days fresh growth; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Not Applicable
Turn Around Time: 2 to 6 weeks
Isolates for susceptibility testing will be referred to a reference laboratory.
Susceptibility testing on M .tuberculosis will be submitted on all isolates from patients considered to be a new case as part of the initial culture procedure.
*Susceptibility testing on mycobacteria isolates other than M. tuberculosis will be submitted to a reference laboratory upon request with a handling fee.
Normal Value: Susceptible
Turn Around Time: Not Applicable
Acceptable Specimen: 1 ml Sputum
2 samples per patient in a 3 month period or 12 months after the end of treatment.
The PCR test is only intended for use on specimens from patients showing signs and symptoms consistent with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The PCR test must be performed in conjunction with mycobacterial culture.
Stability: Ambient: 3 days; Refrigerated: 10 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: MTB Not detected
Turn Around Time: Test performed as needed
Acceptable Specimen: Endocervical, urine, vaginal, penile meatal or male urethral specimen in a Hologic specimen collection kit.
Stability: Swab- Ambient: 60 days; Refrigerated: 60 days; Frozen: >60 days
Stability: Urine- Ambient: 30 days; Refrigerated: 30 days; Frozen: >30 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Can only be ordered as part of a dual test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Refer to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae TMA
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
The isolate may be forwarded to Minnesota Public Health Laboratory for testing.
A report with serotyping results will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: Two sterile, dry synthetic swabs (including, but not limited to polyester, nylon, or dacron) per lesion labeled per site collected OR in synthetic swabs in VTM
Click here for collection instructions.
This test includes: Orthopox, Non-variola Orthopox and Varicella zoster Virus PCR
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Not Detected
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: At least two thin blood films and two thick films made from fresh blood are preferred. Stain one slide set (one thin and one thick) with Wright-Giemsa or Giemsa (preferred) and send the second slide set unstained.
Blood containing anticoagulant (EDTA) can be used if films are prepared within one hour.
Air dry and send in protected container to prevent breakage.
The submission of a single blood specimen will not rule out blood parasites. Additional blood specimens are recommended.
Include EDTA whole blood and serum tubes for possible referral.
Pertinent travel history is requested.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: No parasites seen
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: Stool specimen in Total-Fix preservative includes wet mount, trichrome stain and acid-fast stain (for Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora and Cystoisospora belli). Microsporidia examination is not included. If fresh stool sample is collected, sample must be placed in Total-Fix collection container within 30 minutes.
Two specimens are recommended, while three specimens offer the best chance of organism recovery.
Antibiotics such as metronidazole or tetracycline may interfere with the recovery of intestinal parasites, particularly the protozoa.
If specimen is collected in formalin, trichrome stain will not be performed.
*If Schistosomiasis is suspected, please send urine and stool specimens.
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Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: No parasites seen
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Refer to Bordetella species HDA
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 3 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Serum for IFA testing will be referred to a reference laboratory.
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute and convalescent (3 weeks post onset) phase sera
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 6 days; Frozen: >6 days
Normal Value: < 1:256 or a less than fourfold increase in titer between acute and convalescent sera.
Turn Around Time: 7 days
Acceptable Specimen: Whole Blood and Environmental samples (Liquid, soil, powder, wipes, swabs, and paper)
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 2 months
Normal Value: Not Detected
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Four tube blood collection kit or 5-6 ml lithium heparin without gel
Click here for collection instructions
Click here for collection kits.
Samples must be received Monday through Thursday.
Stability: Refer to Collection Instructions link above. Incubated and centrifuged plasma in QFT-Plus tubes - Refrigerated: 28 days; Frozen: >28 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Acceptable Specimen: Animal testing only. Full cross section of brain stem and cerebellum. Contact Laboratory Services for assistance.
Please submit a rabies request form for each specimen.
Please call for consultation if animal brain cannot be removed prior to submission.
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: Specimen must be shipped cold; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Nasopharyngeal swabs in viral transport medium or saline
This assay simultaneously tests for the following pathogens:Adenovirus, Coronavirus HKU1, Coronavirus NL63, Coronavirus 229E, Coronavirus OC43, SARS CoV-2, Human Metapneumovirus, Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, Influenza A, Influenza A/H1, Influenza A/H3, Influenza A/H1-2009, Influenza B, Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3 & 4, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Bordetella parapertussis, Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Stability: Ambient: 4 hours; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: 30 days
Normal Value: Not Detected
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: Liquid, soil, powder, wipes, swabs, paper, plant material and food samples
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Venous whole blood preserved with EDTA or acid citrate dextrose Solution A (ACD-A)
This assay is intended for the qualitative detection and differentiation of R. rickettsii and R. prowazekii DNA. Specimens can be collected from individuals with signs or symptoms indicative of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or epidemic typhus and epidemiological risk factors consistent with potential exposure.
Stability: Ambient: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute and convalescent (3 weeks post onset) phase sera
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: >3 days
Normal Value: < 1:64 or less than fourfold increase in titer between acute and convalescent sera.
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 3 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
*Reactive RPR can be confirmed by TP-PA at facilities request. Contact Laboratory Services to order.
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum. Include immunization history on test request form.
Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Positive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Refer to Measles Virus
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
*Facilities using molecular methods without conventional culture may send original stool sample.
*Serotypes will no longer be reported back to the submitting facility.
A report indicating if the isolate is a Salmonella species will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: Nasopharyngeal swab in viral transport medium or Hologic collection device in sterile screw cap container
Stability: Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen: -70 degrees C, ship on dry ice
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 2 days
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum or plasma
Stability: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 21 days; Frozen: >21 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Shiga toxin positive specimen in appropriate transport media (MacConkey broth, GN broth, etc.)
*Facilities using molecular methods without conventional culture may send original stool sample.
*Cultures of verotoxigenic E.coli need to be shipped as a Category A specimen.
A report indicating if Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli was isolated will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
*Facilities using molecular methods without conventional culture may send original stool sample.
A report with serotyping results will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: Contact Laboratory Services for specific recommendation regarding collection and transportation.
Call the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services if you suspect smallpox, an adverse reaction to smallpox vaccination or require consultation on an unusual or pustular rash illness.
Confirmation for Smallpox will be performed by the Minnesota Department of Health and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The smallpox risk level should be clearly noted on the laboratory requisition form accompanying any specimen labeled as “vesicle,” “blister,” “rash,” or otherwise suggestive of acute/generalized vesicular or pustular rash illness.
Turn Around Time: Preliminary PCR results within 1 day for vaccinia, VZV and non variola panel
Refer to Arboviral Encephalitis Panel
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
Our laboratory participates in a project for the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (ARLN). Isolate will be forwarded to the Minnesota Public Health Laboratory for serotyping and susceptibility testing.
*A report with serotyping results is available upon request.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
This panel starts with chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay screen (CLIA). If positive cases are identified, follow up testing will include RPR, and TPPA as needed.
Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Ambient: 3 days; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: >5 days
Normal Value: Nonreactive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 1.5 mL serum, 1.0 mL urine, CSF and amniotic fluid
*Must meet CDC requirements, this form must accompany the specimen sent to the lab.
Stability: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 days; Frozen: >2 days
Normal Value: Zika Negative, Chikungunya Negative, Dengue Negative
Turn Around Time: 7 days
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
A report with susceptibility to vancomycin will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml serum
Stability: Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: Positive
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: >7 days
Normal Value: <1:8
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Acceptable Specimen: Swab, in viral transport medium, from any lesion.
Stability: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 7 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 1 day
Mandatory Reportable Condition click HERE to report
Mandatory Isolate Submission
Acceptable Specimen: Pure isolate in appropriate tubed medium or Amies (with charcoal) transport medium. Plates not accepted.
A report with the organism identification will be issued to the submitting facility.
Stability: Ambient: 7 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable
Refer to Arboviral Encephalitis Panel
Acceptable Specimen: 2 ml late acute phase serum
Stability: Ambient: 8 hours; Refrigerated: 2 days; Frozen: >2 days
Normal Value: Negative
Turn Around Time: 3 days
Acceptable Specimen: Isolate in appropriate tubed transport medium or a piece of agar with growth and send in a sterile container. Plates are not accepted. For primary isolation and PCR, collect blood, tissue aspirate or biopsied tissue.
Transport: Blood at room temperature. Tissue samples at 2 to 8°C
Turn Around Time: 3 to 5 days