Rubella PCR

Testing site      

CDC Contract Laboratory

Fairbanks Lab Request Form

Diseases 

Rubella

German measles

Congenital rubella syndrome

Organisms 

Rubella virus

Test Method 

Real-time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-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

Specimen type 

• Throat swabs* in sterile collection tube with liquid viral or universal transport media
• Nasopharyngeal swabs* in sterile collection tube with liquid viral or universal transport media

*Swabs: use synthetic material swabs only – cotton or calcium-alginate tips and wooden or metal shafts are not acceptable.

Specimen collection instructions 

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

Specimens should be collected as close to onset of symptoms as possible.

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.
• Swabs should be placed immediately in 3mL Universal Transport Media (UTM) following collection.

Lab Supply Form 

Storage and transport  

• Store refrigerated (2-8°C) or frozen (≤ -20°C) promptly after collection.
• Ship with frozen cold packs to maintain 2-8°C temperature or dry ice to maintain ≤ -20°C temperature.
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B to ASVL.
• ASVL will ship the specimen immediately to the CDC contract laboratory. 

Results  

Rubella virus nucleic acid: Detected/Not Detected

A normal result is not detected.

Turnaround time  

2 business days from date of receipt at the CDC Contract Laboratory

Testing unit

Clinical Virology

Resources