Molecular Detection of Sin Nombre virus
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Reference Details
Amplification of Sin Nombre virus specific genome.
- Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HPS)
Whole blood, serum, CSF, other bodily fluid (minimum sample 0.5 mL) and fresh frozen tissues. Formalin-fixed and/or paraffin embedded tissues.
Serum: Collect in serum (red top) or serum separator tubes (SST), centrifugation of serum tubes is not needed and should be avoided.
Whole blood: Collect in EDTA, heparin or citrate tubes, can submit as aliquots in sterile 1.5-2.0 mL screw cap tubes.
CSF and other bodily fluids: Collect in sterile 1.5-2.0 mL screw cap tubes.
Tissues: Fresh frozen tissues should be placed in plastic containers. Tissues that are formalin-fixed should also be sent in plastic containers and clearly identified as being in formalin. Paraffin-embedded tissues can be sent as entire blocks or four to six 10 uM sections in a plastic tube or vial.
Store samples in refrigerator or frozen until being shipped for testing. Serum can be shipped refrigerated or frozen. Avoid freezing whole blood samples. Tissues should be shipped frozen. Ship frozen specimens on dry ice and refrigerated specimens on wet ice. Formalin-fixed samples can be sent at room temperature.
Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.
Symptomatic and history of contact to rodents or their droppings.
Completed Special Pathogens requisition including sender name, address and telephone number. Patient information including name or identifier, date of birth, and all relevant patient history including clinical diagnosis, underlying diseases, exposure risk and travel history. Indicate type of specimen collected and all specimen information. Select all required tests. If possible, attach lab results that have already been done at local or provincial laboratories.
Serology is considered the gold standard for identifying a Hantavirus infection, all PCR requests must be run in parallel by serology with the appropriate sample type.
All patient history must be included; sample without adequate patient history to justify testing are subject to rejection.
PCR test is validated.
For diagnosis of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) to be confirmed , one or more of the following diagnostic markers must be positive: (i) presence of hantavirus-specific IgM or rising titers of IgG, (ii) presence of hantavirus RNA by PCR.
14 calendar days.