Diagnostic Immunology
Laboratory Services
Laboratory Collection and Submission / Shipping Information
Laboratory Services
Call the Wadsworth Center Order Desk (518-474-4175) for DI Shipping Kits. Infectious Disease Requisitions (IDRs) and serum collection tubes will be included.
Lavender top tubes for Anaplasma phagocytophilum PCR, Babesia microti PCR, Bartonella sp. PCR, Borrelia burgdorferi PCR and Ehrlichia chaffeensis PCR may be submitted with serum, but must be provided by the submitter. The Diagnostic Immunology Laboratory (DIL) will forward PCR specimens to the appropriate laboratory.
The submitter must provide the sterile tube for CSF VDRL requests and Borrelia burgdorferi CSF, synovial fluid or skin punch PCR requests.
Specimen Collection
Serum is the preferred specimen source for serologic testing. 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 serum to tightly closing plastic tubes and store at 2 – 8°C before shipment. Ship promptly. Acute serum should be collected at the onset of symptoms. Convalescent specimens should follow 2 to 4 weeks later. Paired sera will be tested together.
Plasma is acceptable for a very limited number of tests. If plasma is the only specimen available, please call for approval. Lipemic, hemolyzed, or contaminated sera may cause erroneous results and should be avoided as should repeated freeze-thaw cycles. If specimens are frozen prior to shipment, send them frozen.
CSF for serological analysis should be sent in tightly-closed plastic tubes. If an Encephalitis PCR panel is also desired, the CSF must be frozen and shipped on dry ice to the Viral Encephalitis Laboratory (VEL). If the volume of CSF is under 1 mL, please state the preferred testing (PCR or serology). See detailed collection and shipping instructions for VEL at http://www.wadsworth.org/divisions/infdis/enceph/index.htm. Aliquots of frozen CSF and accompanying serum specimens will be forwarded to Diagnostic Immunology (DIL) by VEL.
Specimen Submission
1. Complete one Infectious Disease Requisition (IDR) for each collection date.
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With all submissions, include patient name, date of birth, address or county of residence, specimen type and collection date. Define relevant travel and immunization history.
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When submitting a primary specimen for the diagnosis of current infection, the onset date (of symptoms) must be defined.
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When submitting a specimen for the confirmation of positive results as required by the New York State Reportable Disease Guidelines, include the results achieved.
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When submitting a specimen from a commercial laboratory for the confirmation of positive results as required by the New York State Reportable Disease Guidelines, include the results achieved and the name / phone number of the original submitter.
2. The specimen will be rejected if the patient identifier on the specimen does not match the IDR. Rejection criteria also include microbial contamination, excessive hemolysis and lipemia.
Shipping Address
| Overnight Courier | US Postal Service |
| Recommended for priority specimens. | |
| Ship Monday – Thursday, excluding days | Diagnostic Immunology |
| preceeding holidays. Include cold pack. | David Axelrod Institute |
| Wadsworth Center | |
| Diagnostic Immunology | NYS Department of Health |
| David Axelrod Institute | PO Box 22002 |
| Wadsworth Center | Albany, NY 12201-2002 |
| NYS Department of Health | |
| 120 New Scotland Avenue | |
| Albany, NY 12208 | |