| Pre-Approval | None |
| Supplemental Information Requested | Requested: Travel history, symptoms, exposures (including animals, arthropods, etc), disease onset date, clinical summary, antibiotic therapy (drug name, dates of therapy) |
| Submittal Form | Specimens must be accompanied with a hard copy of the completed VRDL General Purpose Specimen Submittal Form (PDF)āā or a form generated in the VRDL Lab Web Portal. |
| Methodology | Real-time PCR (LDT) (Diagnostic) |
| Reflex Testing | Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia sp. 364D (R. philipii), Genotyping |
| Acceptable Specimen Type(s) and Collection Method | Human specimens: - Serum: serum tube (red top) or serum separator tube (red/gray top)
- Plasma: EDTA (lavender top) tube
- Eschar/Scab/Lesion: Dry lesion swab or scabs (tissue punch biopsy acceptable but typically not needed)
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| Minimum Volume Requested | - Serum: 1 mL
- Plasma: 1 mL
- Whole blood in serum separator tubes: 5 mL
- Whole blood in EDTA: 5 mL
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| Transport Medium (if using) | Not Applicable |
| Specimen Labeling | Each specimen tube must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers, e.g., patient full name and date of birth. |
| Storage & Preservation of Specimen / Shipping Conditions | - Serum and plasma: freeze or refrigerate specimens after collection.
- Whole blood: refrigerate specimens promptly after collection. Do not freeze whole blood.
- Lesion swabs: freeze or refrigerate specimens promptly after collection.
- Freezing is strongly recommended.
Ship refrigerated specimens to VRDL on cold packs. Ship frozen specimens to VRDL on dry ice. |
Shipping Instructions | Work with your local public health department to ensure samples are packaged according to instructions for Biological Substance ā Category B (UN 3373) shipment. Ship specimens and a hard copy of the completed submittal forms to: CDPH VRDL ATTN: Specimen Receiving 850 Marina Bay Parkway Richmond, CA 94804 Phone: 510-307-8585 |
| Turnaround Time | 10 Business Days |
| Limitations | Negative results do not preclude the possibility of infection. |
| Additional Information | - Samples should be collected as close to onset as possible and before or within 24-48 hours of initiating antibiotic therapy
- This is a triplex assay with primers and differentially-labeled probes directed against Rickettsia spp., R. rickettsii, & R. typhi
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| VRDL Points of Contact | Medical and Epidemiology Liaisons: (510) 307-8585 or VRDL.Submittal@cdph.ca.govā
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