Florida Bureau of Public Health laboratories
Arbovirus PCR
Arbovirus PCR is a real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) lab developed test.
Analyte(s)
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), dengue (DEN), West Nile (WN), chikungunya (CHIK), zika (ZIK), yellow fever (YF), and Mayaro (MAY)
Test Code
DEN: 1680, WNV: 1688, CHIK: 1532, EEE: 1682, ZIK: 1537 YF: 1689, MAY: 1527 or SLE: 1686
Testing Location
Jacksonville Laboratory
Tampa Laboratory
Miami Laboratory – only tests for dengue, chikungunya, and zika
Testing Department
Virology
Pre-approval Required?
Yes.
Requires prior approval from regional epidemiology and notification to the testing lab. Contact the local county health department (CHD) to start the process for approval.
Required Forms
BPHL Test Requisition, DH1847
Include all required fields, who authorized the testing, mosquito bite history, onset date, collection date, travel history, and symptoms.
Turn Around time
3-10 business days after receipt at the laboratory
Test note
If this analysis is selected, regardless of the test code entered, the laboratory will determine which analytes to run based on the current algorithm and the patient’s medical history.
Minimum Volume
1 mL, 3-5 mL (preferred) of whole blood in EDTA tube
1-2 mL CSF, urine, serum, and amniotic fluid
Collection Media
Whole blood in EDTA
Sterile container
Specimen Sources
Trioplex PCR assay tests for dengue, chikungunya, and zika in one test from acute serum, whole blood in EDTA, CSF, urine, and amniotic fluid. Serum collected less than 14 days post onset of symptoms or exposure. Whole blood in EDTA, CSF, urine, and amniotic fluid may only be tested alongside a patient-matched serum specimen. Amniotic fluid and urine are only approved for zika (with paired serum).
EEE, SLE, WN: CSF, biopsy or autopsy brain tissue; frozen. Acute serum (less than 5 days post onset of symptoms) cold or frozen.
YF, MAY: acute serum.
Specimen Labeling
Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers, e.g., name and DOB.
Information on the specimen must match the requisition and/or test order.Â
Special SPecimen Preparation
None
Storage Conditions
Store specimens at 2-8° C or frozen at -20° C or lower until time of shipment.
Packaging and Shipping
Whole blood in EDTA specimens should be shipped on frozen ice packs at 2-8° C or frozen on dry ice at -20° C or lower. It the specimens were stored frozen, then they should be shipped frozen to avoid a freeze thaw cycle.
CSF, tissue, serum, urine, and amniotic fluid specimens should be shipped on frozen ice packs at 2-8° C or frozen on dry ice at -20° C or lower. It the specimens were stored frozen, then they should be shipped frozen to avoid a freeze thaw cycle.
Separate specimens into different bags to help prevent cross contamination.
Include paperwork with specimens but separate them physically by placing the paperwork in the outer pocket of the biohazard bag.
unsatisfactory specimen
1. Requisition form was not fully completed with all required fields
2. No patient identification on specimen tube
3. Patient identifiers on the specimen do not match the requisition or test order
4. Specimen damaged or leaked in transit
5. Specimen was received outside the required temperature range
6. Specimen was received hemolyzed
Interferences and Limitations
Interpretation of rRT-PCR test results must account for the possibility of false-negative results. False-negative results can arise from: poor sample collection, degradation of viral RNA during shipping or storage, specimen collection conducted prior to symptom onset, specimen collection after nucleic acid can no longer be found in the patient (approximately 14 days post-onset of symptoms for serum, whole blood, and/or urine.)
Reference Range
Negative: not detected
Result Indicator
No virus detected
Name of virus detected
Reference lab
CDC if needed
Reflex testing
None