Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Lab test instructions for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Diseases
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
Organisms
MERS-Coronavirus
Test Method
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Availability
- All clients must consult with the Section of Epidemiology for approval before testing.
- 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
