Virus Reference and Surveillance Laboratory (VRSL)
Clinical Virology Program
Electron micrograph of influenza A virus
(Courtesy of the Wadsworth Center, NYSDOH)
Contact Information
Telephone: (518) 474-4177
Certification Information
PFI # 1067
WHO Collaborating Laboratory
Important note - Wadsworth Center’s Virus Reference and Surveillance Laboratory has moved.
Specimens that are shipped through the US Postal Service
send to the following address:
David Axelrod Institute
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
Virus Reference and Surveillance Laboratory
PO Box 22002
Albany, NY 12201-2002
Specimens that are shipped through UPS/Fed Ex/other courier services/deliveries
send to the following address:
David Axelrod Institute
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
Virus Reference and Surveillance Laboratory
120 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
LINK TO LATEST WADSWORTH INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE DATA
Previously known as the Virus Isolation Laboratory, the VRSL is the largest laboratory in the Clinical Virology Program. A combination of classical and molecular virology techniques are used to detect, type, subtype, and sequence for strain analysis, viruses associated with a variety of disease states. Cultured isolates from other virology laboratories throughout New York State are accepted for identification, as are primary clinical specimens for diagnosis.
Virus Information:
- Adenovirus
- Coxsackie viruses and Echoviruses
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Enterovirus
- Hantavirus
- Herpes simplex viruses
- human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)
- Influenza Viruses A and B
- Measles Virus
- Mumps Virus
- Parainfluenza Viruses 1-4 (PIV 1-4)
- Parvovirus B19
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Rhinovirus
- Rotavirus
- Rubella Virus (German Measles)
- Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-coronavirus)