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VRDL Test Page - Rickettsia species (R. rickettsii, R. typhi, Rickettsia spp.) PCR

VIRAL AND RICKETTSIAL DISEASE LABORATORY

Test Order
Rickettsia species (R. rickettsii, R. typhi, Rickettsia spp.) Detection - PCR

Information Category	Information Detail
Pre-Approval	None
Supplemental Information Requested	Requested: Travel history, symptoms, exposures (including animals, arthropods, etc.), disease onset date, clinical summary, antibiotic therapy (drug name, dates of therapy)
Submittal Form	Specimens must be accompanied with a hard copy of the completed VRDL General Purpose Specimen Submittal Form (PDF) or a form generated in the VRDL Lab Web Portal.
Methodology	Real-time PCR (LDT) (Diagnostic)
Reflex Testing	Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia rickettsii subsp. Californica, Rickettsia felis, Genotyping
Acceptable Specimen Type(s) and Collection Method	Human specimens: Serum: serum tube (red top) or serum separator tube (red/gray top) Plasma: EDTA (lavender top) tube Eschar/Scab/Lesion: Dry lesion swab or scabs (tissue punch biopsy acceptable but typically not needed)
Minimum Volume Requested	Serum: 1 mL Plasma: 1 mL Whole blood in serum separator tubes: 5 mL Whole blood in EDTA: 5 mL
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 and plasma: freeze or refrigerate specimens after collection. Whole blood: refrigerate specimens promptly after collection. Do not freeze whole blood. Lesion swabs: freeze or refrigerate specimens promptly after collection. Freezing is strongly recommended. Ship refrigerated specimens to VRDL on cold packs. Ship frozen specimens to VRDL on dry ice.
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 ATTN: Specimen Receiving 850 Marina Bay Parkway Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-307-8585
Turnaround Time	10 Business Days
Limitations	Negative results do not preclude the possibility of infection.
Additional Information	Samples should be collected as close to onset as possible and before or within 24-48 hours of initiating antibiotic therapy This is a triplex assay with primers and differentially-labeled probes directed against Rickettsia spp., R. rickettsii, & R. typhi R. rickettsii subsp. Californica was previously known as R. 364D or R. philipii
VRDL Points of Contact	Medical and Epidemiology Liaisons: (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.Submittal@cdph.ca.gov