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ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention
1000 Broadway, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
Tel (510) 267-3250
Fax (510) 268-2111
Rebecca Gebhart, Acting Director
Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Health Officer
Erica Pan, MD, MPH, FAAP, Director
Sandra Huang, MD, CD Controller
Specific Requirements for Serum and Urine Submittal to the Public Health Laboratory
Update: 6/21/2017
The California Virus and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) offers testing for Zika virus infection
by way of detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and also direct detection of the Zika virus by Real
Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
Guidance:
Guidance for submission of specimens for Zika virus infection testing are provided by the VRDL at
the following URL:
https://archive.cdph.ca.gov/programs/vrdl/Documents/Zika_Testing_VRDL_Quicksheet.pdf
Storage and Transport:
This guidance indicates that all specimens to be tested must be submitted to the local public health
laboratory (Alameda County Public Health Laboratory (ACPHL)).
1. For antibody (IgM) testing, please collect and submit at least 2 ml of serum (5-10 ml of
blood) in a red top or serum separator tube.
2. For RT-PCR testing, serum and urine are acceptable. Please collect and submit at least 2 ml
of serum (5-10 ml of blood) in a red top or serum separator tube and/or at least 3 ml of
urine in a sterile container.
3. Collected specimens should be stored cold (2-8°C).
4. Ship all specimens (serum or urine) on cold packs within 24-72 hours of collection.
5. For shipping of tissue, please consult with ACPHL at 510-382-4300.
Shipping address:
Alameda County Public Health Laboratory
2901 Peralta Oaks Ct. Second Floor
Oakland, CA 94605
*Specimens can only be received at the above address Monday-Friday between 0830 and 1630*