Diagnostic Immunology
Laboratory Services
Laboratory Collection and Submission / Shipping Information
Supplies
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 can 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 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 should be sent in tightly closing plastic tubes. Refrigerated CSF is acceptable for a limited number of serologic tests; however, if PCR is requested for the Viral Encephalitis/Meningitis Program panel it must be frozen and shipped on dry ice to the Viral Encephalitis Laboratory (VEL) first. Please see detailed collection and shipping instructions for VEL. Unfrozen CSF samples will be rejected for PCR so please call if there are any questions regarding shipping. Specimens for serology will be forwarded to Diagnostic Immunology (DIL) from the VEL. Please state the preferred
testing (PCR or serology) if the volume of CSF is under 1ml. Serum specimens accompanying CSF may be shipped together; VEL will forward serum to DIL for the serology testing.
Specimen Submission
1. Complete one Infectious Disease Requisition (IDR) for each collection date.
-
Include patient name, date of birth, address or county of residence, specimen type and collection date. Define relevant travel and immunization history.
-
When submitting a primary specimen for the diagnosis of current infection, the onset date (of symptoms) must be defined.
-
When submitting a specimen for the confirmation of positive results as required by the New York State Reportable Disease Guidelines, include the results achieved.
-
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
|
US Postal Service |
Overnight Courier |
|
Recommended for priority specimens. |
|
|
Diagnostic Immunology |
Ship Monday – Thursday, excluding days |
|
David Axelrod Institute |
preceeding holidays. Include cold pack. |
|
Wadsworth Center |
|
|
NYS Department of Health |
Diagnostic Immunology |
|
PO Box 22002 |
David Axelrod Institute |
|
Albany, NY 12201-2002 |
Wadsworth Center |
|
NYS Department of Health |
|
|
120 New Scotland Avenue |
|
|
Albany, NY 12208 |