Human arboviral infections may occur from exposure to infected mosquitos or ticks. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Mild cases may be asymptomatic or include a slight fever and/or headache, body aches, joint pains, diarrhea, or rash.  More severe symptoms may include vomiting, severe pain, and serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding membranes) with headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, or paralysis.

The Viral Encephalitis Laboratory offers molecular assays on human specimens for acute arboviral infections, to assist health care providers with early diagnosis and to assist public health with emergency vector control programs.  Samples may include specimens from human cases who may not necessarily exhibit inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. Insect and animal arbovirus testing is performed by the Arbovirus Laboratory_[1]-not the Viral Encephalitis Laboratory. Contact the Arbovirus Laboratory Director at (518) 485-6632 prior to sending samples. 

Specimen Submission to the Viral Encephalitis Laboratory

Specimens shipped through the US Postal Service, UPS, Fed Ex, or other commercial courier services should be sent to the address listed on the right.

HEALTH ADVISORY: TESTING AND REPORTING OF MOSQUITO AND TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES_[2]

Laboratory Requirements for PCR Tests

• Specimens
  • If neurologic symptoms are observed CSF should be sent for testing along with serum. Additionally, urine and whole blood for testing is also requested.  Testing of the complete set of specimens has improved detection rates due to varying titers and viremic timing in the different specimen types.
  • Collect 5-10 ml blood in a serum separator tube (SST). Spin to separate and aliquot. Please send >2.5 ml serum to allow for complete testing. A minimum of 1000 µL is needed for PCR only.
• Collect > 2.5 ml urine for PCR testing. A minimum of 1000 µL is needed.
• Collect > 0.5 ml whole blood (EDTA) for PCR testing. A minimum of 200 µL is needed.
• Neurologic Symptoms: Collect > 1.5 mL for PCR and serology, minimum 300 uL for PCR only (frozen at -70 °C, no preservatives).
• Testing of brain tissue may be performed under special circumstances, but must be fresh frozen (-70°C, no preservatives) not formalin fixed or paraffin embedded. Submitter should contact the VEL Director prior to submitting this specimen. 
• A complete Infectious Diseases Requisition Form_[3] must accompany each specimen.
  • This form may be filled out by hand or electronically and printed. You may also complete the Remote Order Requisition.
• Shipping
  • It is the shipper's responsibility to ensure that appropriate shipping materials are used with regard to safety and transportation regulations, and to ensure that the specimen is still frozen or cold on arrival at the laboratory. Please contact your carrier for shipping and packaging information. Patient specimens must be shipped as "Diagnostic Specimens".
  • Specimens should only be shipped Sunday-Thursday "Priority Overnight" so that appropriate laboratory personnel can be present to receive and accession specimens Monday-Friday.
  • Specimens may also be hand couriered.
  • CSF specimens must be shipped frozen on dry ice (suggested minimum weight 2 kg or 5 lbs of dry ice).
  • Serum, urine and whole blood should be stored cold and shipped on cold packs but may be shipped frozen on dry ice with or without CSF.

Laboratory Requirements for Arbovirus Serology, Acute and Convalescent Serum 

The acute serum may be submitted with CSF specimen(s) for PCR testing. If no CSF is being sent, the same procedure should be followed.

• Collect acute specimens at the onset of symptoms. 
• Obtain blood specimens (red top/SST or equivalent tube) aseptically using approved venipuncture techniques by qualified personnel.
• Allow specimens to clot at room temperature and then centrifuge.
• Transfer to screw-top, plastic tubes and store at 2 - 8°C before shipment.
• Submit frozen serum with PCR specimen(s) to the Viral Encephalitis Laboratory.
• A completed Infectious Diseases Requisition Form_[4] indicating the serum specimen collection date must be submitted for each specimen.

Obtain a convalescent specimen two to four weeks after the acute specimen's collection date.  Paired specimens will be tested together.

• Obtain blood specimens (red top/SST or equivalent tube) aseptically using approved venipuncture techniques by qualified personnel.
• Allow specimens to clot at room temperature and then centrifuge.
• Transfer to screw-top, plastic tubes and store at 2-8°C before shipment.
• A completed Infectious Diseases Requisition Form_[5] indicating the collection date of the current serum must be submitted for each specimen.
• Shipping: Serum specimens can be sent on cold packs directly to: Diagnostic Immunology Laboratory, New York State Department of Health, David Axelrod Institute, 120 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208

For questions on serology other than rabies please contact the Diagnostic Immunology Laboratory_[6] at (518) 486-3845. 

For questions on encephalitis testing please contact Amy Dean, Ph.D., Director at (518) 474-4177.
A printable version of Collection and Submission Instructions_[7] for Viral Encephalitis Testing is also available.