Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Testing site      

Alaska State Public Health Laboratory – Anchorage 

Anchorage Lab Request Form 

Diseases 

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome 

Organisms 

MERS-Coronavirus 

Test Method 

Polymerase Chain Reaction (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 

Respiratory   

• Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swabs 
• Sputum 
• Lower respiratory tract aspirates/washes 

Serum 

• Blood collected in a serum separator tube (SST) is recommended.  

Specimen collection instructions 

Follow CDC Guidance: Laboratory Testing for MERS and contact ASPHL with questions.

Storage and transport  

• Store refrigerated and ship with cool packs within 72 hours. 
• >72 hours, store and ship frozen. 
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B. 
• Ship as quickly as possible. 

With approval, ship to: Anchorage Public Health Laboratory, ATNN: Special Pathogens Unit. 

Results  

• Negative 
• Presumptive Positive, sent to CDC for confirmation 
• Equivocal, sent to CDC 
• Inconclusive, inadequate specimen, recollect 

A normal result is negative. 

Turnaround time  

2 days 

Resources