VIRAL CULTURE/VIRAL REFERENCE

Laboratory

Immunology/Virology

Description

The isolation and identification of viruses found in original specimens as well as tissue culture.

Viruses detected:

Test Methodology

Specimen Types / Volume / Collection Container

Autopsy/biopsy/fresh tissues: 5 grams of tissue in a sterile, leak-proof, screw-capped container, avoiding cross contamination.
Throat, nasal, nasopharyngeal (NP), oropharyngeal (OP), buccal swabs: 3 mL of Viral Transport Media (VTM) with swab.
Cerebrospinal fluids (CSF): 3 mL collected in a leak-proof, sterile plastic tube without VTM.
Stool: 4 grams collected in a sterile container.
Urine: 3 mL of urine collected into a leak-proof, sterile plastic cup.
Vesicular lesions: 3 mL of fluids or swabs in VTM.
Inoculated monolayer or supernatant collected from tissue cultures infected with virus.

Collection and Storage Guidelines

Samples should be collected as close to onset as possible.
Samples should be stored at 2 to 8°C until shipment and must be received within 72 hours from collection (autopsy tissues should be 48 hours from collection). If a delay is anticipated, samples should be stored at -70°C or lower.

DCLS approved submitters can request collection kits at DCLS_SSSKits@dgs.virginia.gov.

Transportation Instructions

If samples are submitted refrigerated, ship them on frozen cold packs to maintain a temperature of 2 to 8°C.
If samples are submitted frozen, ship them on dry ice to maintain a temperature of -20°C or colder.
Samples submitted on tissue culture should be submitted at room temperature (18 to 30°C) or on warm packs.
Samples submitted as supernatants from virus-infected tissue cultures should be submitted on frozen cold packs to maintain a temperature of 2 to 8°C.
Contact the laboratory at (804) 648-4480 ext. 271 before submitting samples collected on Fridays, holidays, or weekends.

Acceptable Arrival Temperature

2 to 8°C if the sample is sent refrigerated.
-20°C or colder if the sample is sent frozen.
8 to 30°C if the sample (e.g., Isolates on cell lines) is sent at room temperature or on warm packs.

Causes for Rejection

Quantity not sufficient for testing.
The details on the specimen do not precisely correspond with the patient’s records.
Specimen received outside of the acceptable arrival temperature range.
More than 72 hours (48 for autopsy tissue testing) have passed since the sample was collected, and the sample was not kept frozen during this period.

Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) / Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA)

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