Florida Bureau of Public Health laboratories
rubella PCR
BPHL has internally validated (LDT) a qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of rubella.
Analyte(s)
Rubella virus
Test Code
1720
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, onset date, collection date, travel history, and symptoms.
Turn around Time
1-5 business days after receipt at the laboratory.
Minimum Volume
1 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)
Sterile container with no media
Specimen Sources
Nasopharyngeal (NP) or throat swabs
Nasopharyngeal aspirates
Urine
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
None
Storage Conditions
Store specimens at 2-8° C or frozen at less than or equal to -20° C until shipment. Ship within 4 days of collection.
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
A negative result should not be used to rule out rubella infection as many variables can affect specimen quality. The real-time assay has not been cleared or approved by the FDA. The performance characteristics have been established by Viral Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch (VVPDB).
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
Rubella virus detected
No virus detected
Reference lab
CDC, if needed
Reflex testing
None