| Pre-Approval | None |
| Supplemental Information Requested | Requested: Travel history, disease onset date, collection date, previous arbovirus test results |
| Submittal Form | Specimens must be accompanied with a hard copy of the completed VRDL General Purpose Specimen Submittal Formā or a form generated in the VRDL Lab Web Pāāortal. |
| Methodology (Commercial Test Name or Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)) | Real-time RT-PCR (LDT) (Diagnostic) which distinguishes dengue type (type 1, 2, 3, or 4) |
| Reflex Testing | None |
| Acceptable Specimen Type(s) and Collection Method | Human specimens: - Serum or whole blood in red top or red/gray top serum separator tubes
- Plasma or whole blood in EDTA (lavender top) tubes
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Minimum Volume Requestedā
| - Serum: 1 mL
- Whole blood in serum separator tubes: 5 mL
- Plasma: 1mL
- Whole blood in EDTA whole blood tubes: 5 mL
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| Transport Medium (if using) | Not Applicable |
| Specimen Labeling | Each specimen tube must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers, e.g., patient full name and date of birth. |
Storage & Preservation of Specimen / Shipping Conditions
| - Serum: freeze (preferred) or refrigerate specimens after collection.
- Plasma: maintain on ice or in a refrigerator for no longer than 2 hours before it is frozen.
- Whole blood: refrigerate specimens promptly after collection. Do not freeze whole blood.
Ship refrigerated specimens to VRDL on cold packs. Ship frozen specimens to VRDL on dry ice.ā |
Shipping Instructions
| āWork with your local public health department to ensure samples are packaged according to instructions for Biological Substance ā Category B (UN 3373) shipment. Ship specimens and a hard copy of the completed submittal forms to: āCDPH VRDL ATTN: Specimen Receiving 850 Marina Bay Parkway Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-307-8585
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āTurnaround Time
| ā10 Business Days
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āāLimitations
| āNegative result does not preclude the possibility of infection
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āAdditional Information
| āSpecimens should be collected as close to illness onset as possible and no longer than 7 days after onset unless timing of onset is unclear or the sample previously tested positive for dengue by PCR and typing requested.
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āVRDL Points of Contact
| āMedical and Epidemiology Liaisons: (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.submittal@cdph.ca.govā
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