Florida Bureau of Public Health laboratories
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
BPHL has adopted a test method designed and validated by the CDC and is used as an emergency use authorization (EUA) assay for the detection of the specific viral nucleic acid, MERS CoV. Internal performance characteristics were determined by validations (LDT) performed at the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health Laboratory.
Analyte(s)
MERS coronavirus (MERS CoV)
Test Code
9746
Testing Location
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, bite history, onset date, collection date, travel history, and symptoms.
Turn around Time
1-5 business days after receipt at the laboratory.
Minimum Volume
.3 mL
Unsatisfactory specimen
1. Swabs with calcium alginate or cotton tips or with wooden shafts
2. Quantity not sufficient (QNS)
3. Specimen was not labeled with at least 2 unique patient identifiers
4. Information on specimen does not match requisition/test order
5. Specimen leaked in transit
6. Specimen was received out of the acceptable temperature range
Collection Media
Dacron swab in Viral transport media (VTM) or universal transport media (UTM)
Serum separator: red or tiger top tube
Sterile container: Sputum or other lower respiratory specimen
Specimen Sources
Nasopharyngeal (NP) or throat swab
Serum
Sputum or other lower respiratory specimen (priority)
Specimen Labeling
Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers, e.g., name and DOB, and the date of collection.
Information on the specimen must match the requisition and/or test order.
Special SPecimen Preparation
It is recommended to collect lower respiratory, upper respiratory and serum for testing.
Storage Conditions
Store specimens at 2-8° C or frozen at less than or equal to -20° C until shipment.
Packaging and Shipping
Specimens must be shipped overnight at 2-8° C or frozen on dry ice at less than or equal to -20° C. If you store the sample frozen, it must be shipped frozen to avoid a freeze thaw cycle.
You must select “Saturday delivery” on packages shipped on Friday.
Couriered samples must be transported in a cooler with frozen ice packs to arrive at the laboratory between 2-8° C. Laboratory staff will check the temperature of the cooler upon arrival before accepting specimens.
Interferences and Limitations
Swabs with calcium alginate or cotton tips or with wooden shafts, can result in inactivation of some viruses and inhibit some molecular assays
Reference Range
No virus detected
Result Indicator
MERS-CoV Presumptive Positive
Equivocal
Inconclusive
No virus detected
Reference lab
CDC, if needed
Reflex testing
None