IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to
NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.
NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see
NUlirt Guide).
Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing
will not be performed without all required information.
Please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459 for further clarification.
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| Test: |
Smallpox
- Contact NPHL emergency pager (402) 888-5588
|
| Synonym: |
- Variola, Variola virus, Orthopox, Orthopoxvirus
|
| Method: |
- CDC Laboratory Response Network methods
|
| Availability: |
- Monday-Friday
- Turnaround time 1-7 days
|
| Specimen: |
- Vesical fluid
- Skin
- Crust
- Dry or wet swab of lesion (dry is preferred)
- Touch prep (slide) of lesion/vesical fluid
- Fresh biopsy (NO FORMALIN)
|
| Collection Device: |
- Viral transport media may be added to swabs
- Seal with Parafilm™ or tape
- Test subject to CLIA regulations and requires 2 patient identfiers on container and requisition forms
|
| Volume: |
- Requested volume for liquid clinical samples: 1 mL
- Minimum volume for liquid clinical samples: 0.5 mL
|
| Storage/Transport: |
|
| Unacceptable: |
- Swabs collected in inapproprate transport media (univeral transport media, M4 viral transport medium, etc)
- Leaking container
- Inappropriate specimen type
- Insufficient volume
|
| Specimen Stability: |
- Freeze or refrigerate promply after collection
- Store frozen dry swabs up to 60 days
- Store frozen crusts and swabs in transport media up to 30 days
- Freezing strongly recommended, however if no freezer available, refrigerate samples for up to 7 days
|
| Reference Interval: |
|
| Reportable Disease: |
|
| Comments: |
- Contact NPHL emergency pager before sending specimen (402) 888-5588
|
| Revised: |
4/19/2024 |
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call
NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459.
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