Viral Encephalitis Testing Laboratory
Program Information
The La Crosse virus
Contact Us
Lab Director: Kirsten St.George, MAppSc, PhD
Lab Supervisor: Kay Escuyer, PhD
Telephone: (518) 474-4177
Certification Information
CLIA # 33D2005937
PFI # 8523
Specimens that are shipped through the US Postal Service
send to the following address:
Wadsworth Center, NYSDOH
Viral Encephalitis Testing Laboratory
David Axelrod Institute
PO Box 22002
Albany, NY 12201-2002
Specimens that are shipped through UPS/Fed Ex/other courier services/deliveries
send to the following address:
Wadsworth Center, NYSDOH
Viral Encephalitis Testing Laboratory
120 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
Viral encephalitis encompasses a group of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system caused by a variety of viral agents and exhibiting common clinical symptoms.
Symptoms may include headache, confusion, or other alterations in sensorium, nausea, or vomiting. Signs may include evidence of elevated intracranial pressure or meningeal irritation, cranial nerve palsies, paresis or paralysis, altered reflexes, or convulsions.
The New York State Department of Health offers tests for the following viruses:
- Adenovirus
- California encephalitis virus
(includes LaCrosse & Jamestown Canyon viruses) - Cytomegalovirus virus- more info...
- Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)
- Enteroviruses - more info...
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 - more info...
- Human herpes virus 6 (HHV6)
- Powassan virus (POW)
- Rabies virus - more info...
- St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLE)
- Varicella zoster virus
- West Nile virus