Measles PCR

Testing site     

Primary testing site:

Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASVL)

Fairbanks Lab Request Form

Surge testing site: 

Alaska State Public Health Laboratory – Anchorage 

Anchorage Lab Request Form 

Diseases 

• high fever, rash, cough
• brain inflammation
• pneumonia

Organisms 

• Measles virus
• Rubeola virus

Test Method 

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Availability

1. All clients must report suspect cases to the Section of Epidemiology
2. Contact Alaska State Virology Lab in Fairbanks prior to submitting specimens
3. Contact Alaska State Public Health Laboratory in Anchorage prior to submitting specimens

Specimen type

• Throat swabs (preferred)
• Nasopharyngeal swab
• Urine

Specimen collection instructions 

Contact the Section of Epidemiology immediately for consultation prior to specimen collection.

Swabs 

• A Dacron or polyester nasopharyngeal swab is required.  Recommended products include Fisher # 14-906-23, 23-600-952, 23-600-955, VWR # 95041-316, or comparable products.
• Cotton or calcium-alginate tips and wooden or metal shafts are not acceptable.
• Swabs should be placed immediately in 3mL Universal Transport Media (UTM) following collection.

Urine

• Collect 20-100mL into a clean, sterile leak-proof container (not in UTM).
• Collect from the first part of the urine stream.  The first morning void is ideal.  

Storage and transport  

• Store refrigerated
• Ship with cool packs
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B.

Primary testing

Ship to: Fairbanks Public Health Laboratory, ATTN: Clinical Virology   

Surge testing

Ship to: Anchorage Public Health Laboratory

Results  

• Rubeola virus nucleic acid: Detected/Not Detected
• A normal result is not detected.

Turnaround time  

1-2 days

Notes

The following specimens are referred to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for additional testing:

• Urine specimens
• Specimens for which measles virus is detected that are suspected vaccine reactions will be sent for confirmatory measles PCR testing. The TAT for confirmatory measles PCR testing is 2-3 days.
• Specimens for which measles virus is detected will be sent to CDPH for measles genotyping. The TAT for genotyping is 10-14 days.

Resources