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Detection of IgM Antibodies Directed Towards West Nile Virus by ELISA

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Accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to Laboratory no. 594 (ISO/IEC 17025)

Requisition Forms

Reference Details

Description:

Serological detection of IgM antibodies directed towards West Nile virus (WNV) by In-House MAC ELISA. 

Test Category:
Serology
Pathogen:
West Nile virus (WNV)
Illnesses and Diseases:
  • West Nile encephalitis
Specimen:

Serum. Minimum volume of 250 µl required.

Collection Method:

2 mL screw cap tubes.

Specimen Processing, Storage and Shipping:

Store samples refrigerated or frozen until shipped for testing. Ship frozen samples on dry ice, and refrigerated samples on wet ice

Transportation of Dangerous Goods:

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.

 

Patient Criteria:

Suspected West Nile virus infection.

Accompanying Documentation:

Completed Viral Zoonoses requisition including sender laboratory name, address and telephone number. Patient name and / or identifier (specimen reference number), date of birth, test(s) requested, date of on-set of symptoms, and clinical and travel history of patient.

Comments:

All WNV diagnostic samples are tested by both IgM and IgG ELISA to increase the clinical sensitivity.

Methods and Interpretation of Results:

The detection of IgG antibodies in a single serum sample is indicative of past or present exposure to this virus. A 4 fold rise or greater in neutralizing antibody titre, or seroconversion in paired sera, is required to document a "confirmed case" of infection.

IgM can persist in serum for up to a year or more after arbovirus exposure.  Thus, detection of IgM by itself is not sufficient for confirmation of acute infection, but is consistent with an exposure at an undetermined time.

Isolation of an arbovirus or detection of nucleic acid by real-time RT-PCR in a clinical specimen provides clear evidence of infection associated with the current clinical illness.

 

Turnaround Time:

15 Calendar days.

Contact:
Phone #: (204) 789-7037
Fax: (204) 789-2018
References:
  1. Martin, D.A., Muth, D.A, Brown, T., Johnson, A.J., Karabatsos, N., and Roehrig, J.T. Standardization of immunoglobulin M capture enzyme-limked immunosorbent assays for routine diagnosis of arboviral infections. J. Clin. Micro. 2000; 38: 1823-1826.