| Pre-Approval | Prior approval is required to ship these samples for testing.
VRDL will not test unapproved suspect Andes specimens. Contact the VRDL Medical and Epidemiology Liaisons at (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.Submittal@cdph.ca.gov to request approval.
Submitters must coordinate deliveries with CDPH before shipping. VRDL will not test any suspect Andes specimens that are received without prior coordination and tracking information.
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Supplemental Information Requested
| Contact VRDL’s Medical and Epidemiology Liaisons at (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.Submittal@cdph.ca.gov for requested supplemental information, including but not limited to animal or environmental exposure, disease onset date, clinical symptoms.
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Submittal Form
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| Methodology (Commercial Test Name or Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)) | Real-time RT-PCR (LDT)(Diagnostic)
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| Reflex Testing | Serum specimens may be forwarded to the CDC for IgM and IgG New World Hantavirus antibody testing.
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| Acceptable Specimen Type(s) and Collection Method | Human specimens
Diagnostic Specimens:
- Whole blood: EDTA (lavender top) tubes
- Serum:
- Plain Red-Top Tubes: Serum collected in plain, red-top tubes must be separated and transferred to sterile, screw-cap tubes for storage and transport.
- Serum Separator Tubes (SST in red/gray top): SST may be transported after centrifugation.
Non-Diagnostic (Surveillance Use Only) Specimens: - Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissue (Surveillance Use Only)
Additional specimens may be tested if patient is deceased (Surveillance Use Only). Please contact the VRDL Medical and Epidemiology Liaisons at (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.Submittal@cdph.ca.gov for more information. |
| Minimum Volume Requested | - Whole Blood in EDTA tubes: 5 mL
- Serum: 1 mL
- Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissue (FFPE) (Surveillance Use Only): 1 Tissue block
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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 | Storage & Preservation of Specimen:
Diagnostic Specimens:
- Whole blood (EDTA):
- Keep whole blood (EDTA) refrigerated (> 0°C to ≤ 8°C); specimens may be stored for up to 14 days from date of collection to shipping.
- Whole blood should not be frozen (at or below 0°C).
- Serum:
- Serum may be stored refrigerated (> 0°C to ≤ 8°C) if sample will arrive at CDPH within 14 days of collection to shipping.
- Serum should not be frozen (at or below 0°C).
Non-Diagnostic (Surveillance Use Only) Specimens:
- FFPE Tissue:
- Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens may be stored at > 0°C.
Shipping Temperatures:
- Whole Blood (EDTA): > 0°C to ≤ 8°C
- Serum: > 0°C to ≤ 8°C
- Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded tissue (FFPE) (Surveillance Use Only): > 0°C
Refrigerated specimens should be sent with frozen cold packs. Specimens should be received within 14 days of collection. Specimens received outside of acceptable temperature ranges and/or collection dates as noted above may be tested for public health surveillance purposes only.
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Shipping Instructions | Work with your local public health department to ensure samples are packaged according to instructions for Biological Substance – Category B (UN 3373) shipment. Ship specimens and a hard copy of the completed submittal forms to: CDPH VRDL-1
ATTN: Specimen Receiving
850 Marina Bay Parkway Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-307-8585
If specimens will be delivered between 12 – 1 pm, after 5 pm, or on weekends, instruct the carrier to place specimens in the specimen delivery refrigerator.
Submitters must coordinate deliveries with VRDL before shipping. VRDL will not test suspect Andes specimens that are received without prior coordination and tracking information.
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| Turnaround Time | 10 Business Days |
| Limitations | Negative result does not preclude the possibility of infection. |
| Additional Information | Detection of Andes virus RNA is most successful when samples are collected within 14 days of symptom onset. Since the incidence of HPS is rare in California, we recommend that you also submit a respiratory specimen for respiratory PCR assays to test for other agents that may be causing your patient’s illness. Please visit the VRDL Test Page - Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (FluSC2) PCR for information regarding storage and shipping instructions for respiratory specimens.
For information regarding Sin Nombre virus PCR testing, please visit the VRDL Test Page - Sin Nombre virus PCR.
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| VRDL Points of Contact | Medical and Epidemiology Liaisons: (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.Submittal@cdph.ca.gov or CDPH Duty Officer (916) 328-3605 (after hours) |