Ebola Virus

Testing site      

Alaska State Public Health Laboratory – Anchorage 

Anchorage Lab Request Form 

Diseases 

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) 

Organisms 

Ebola virus 

Test Method 

PCR 

Availability

1. All clients must consult with the Section of Epidemiology  for approval before testing
2. If approved by Epidemiology, Contact ASPHL Biothreat Team before submitting samples  

Specimen type 

Minimum of two tubes whole blood (4 mL draw required per tube) 

Specimen collection instructions 

EDTA or sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) preservative in plastic tubes 

Storage and transport  

• 2-8°C ship on wet ice or cold packs 
• Package, label, and ship as UN2814 Infectious Substance, Affecting Humans, Category A 
• Ship as quickly as possible 

Ship to Alaska State Public Health Laboratory: Anchorage, ATTN: Special Pathogens 

Results  

• Ebola RNA detected 
• Ebola RNA not detected 

A normal result is not detected.       

Turnaround time  

• 1 day for testing result
• If patient is tested less than 3 days after the onset of fever, retesting at 72 hours post-onset may be required

Resources