Test Order Name - Measles PCR
Synonym(s) - Rubeola or Red measles
Methodology - Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Measles viral RNA
Acceptable Specimen Type(s) for Testing - Respiratory swab (throat [oropharyngeal] or NP Swab) and Urine, within 2 weeks of rash onset.
Transport / Collection Medium -
- Samples should be received at the laboratory within 24 hours of collection.
- Throat (oropharyngeal) or NP Swab: Universal transport medium / viral transport medium (use the Dacron swab included in the kit). At least 2 to 3 milliliters of Universal or Viral Transport Medium required.
- Urine: Collect 10 to 50 milliliters of urine in a sterile container. For samples exceeding 24 hours until transportation to the public health laboratory see Storage and Preservation of Specimen for additional processing instructions. If urine has been processed into pellets it should be transported in at least 2 to 3 milliliters of Universal or Viral Transport Medium
Storage and Preservation of Specimen -
- Throat or NP swab in UTM/VTM: Refrigerate (2 to 8°C) until transported to the laboratory and ship on cold packs. Sample should be received at the laboratory within 24 hours of collection. If longer storage is necessary, freeze sample at -20 Celsius or colder until transportation to the public health laboratory is available. If access to a freezer is unavailable, please refrigerate sample until transportation is available.
- Urine: Refrigerate urine sample (2 to 8 °C) until transported to the laboratory and ship on cold packs. Sample should be received at the laboratory within 24 hours of collection.
- For clinics with access to laboratory centrifuges who are processing samples that will exceed 24 hours until transportation to the public health laboratory: Urine samples should be centrifuged at 500-600 x g for 10 minutes at 4°C. Discard supernatant and resuspend the pellet in 2 to 3 ml of UTM/ VTM. Freeze the resuspended urine sample in VTM/UTM at -20 °C or colder until transportation to the public health laboratory is available. If a freezer is unavailable, refrigerate until transportation is available.
- If a laboratory centrifuge is unavailable to process urine samples that will exceed 24 hours until transportation, store samples in refrigerator until transportation to the public health laboratory is available.
Minimum Volume Required -
- Respiratory swab: 2 to 3 milliliters of Universal or Viral Transport Medium
- Urine, unprocessed: 10 to 15 milliliters
- Urine, processed: Pellet resuspended in 2 to 3 milliliters of Universal or Viral Transport Medium
Additional Collection Instructions -
- Throat Swab (preferred respiratory sample): vigorously swab tonsillar areas with sterile Dacron swab.
- Nasopharyngeal swab: firmly rub posterior nasopharynx with sterile Dacron swab.
- Place swab into liquid viral or universal transport medium (at least 2 to 3 milliliters)
- Urine: Collect 10 to 50 milliliters urine in a sterile container. Collect from first part of urine stream; first morning void is ideal.
Additional Required Information - Each specimen tube must be labelled with at least two unique patient identifiers (e.g., full name of patient and patient date of birth)
Send Out? - No
Turnaround Time - 24 hours
Testing Restrictions - Please contact San Francisco Communicable Disease Control at 628-217-6100 for all requests for Measles PCR testing prior to submitting samples to the laboratory. If after hours, follow the instructions to reach the on-call physician.
Limitations / Notes / Disclaimers - Note: Collect sample as soon as Measles is suspected.