1.Check the patient’s Zika Supplemental Form

Patient must have a COMPLETED Zika Supplemental Form. This form must accompany the sample when sent to the State Laboratory.

2.Collectandpreparetheserum sample

  • Useaclottube(withoutanticoagulant)tocollectbloodfromavein.
  • Allowthebloodtoclotbylettingitsetundisturbedatroom temperaturefor30to60minutes.
  • Centrifugethetubeat1,000Xgfor10minutes.
  • Transfer at least 2.5 ml of serum from the clotted sample into pre-labeled tube (See #2 below). Keep refrigerated.

3.Labelthe leak-proof screw-captube(s)thatcamewiththekit.

  • Makesurethelabelhasacompletepatientnameandatleast1uniqueidentifier(Forexample,dateofbirth,medicalrecordnumber,etc.)
  • Second tube may be used for CSF (2 ml), amniotic fluid (2 ml) or urine (2 ml).Please label accordingly.

4.Fillouttherequisitionform(DCH-0583)availableat:

  • Filltheform outcompletely,andmakesuretheinformationontherequisitionformmatchestheinformationonthetube(s).Sampleswillnotbetestediftheformisnotcompletelyfilledout,oriftheinformationdisagrees.

5.RefrigerateifthesamplewillnotbeshippedtoMDHHSimmediately:

  • Keepthesampleina2°C-8°Crefrigerator.
  • Donotdelayshippinglongerthan3days.
  • Donotallowtheserum tofreeze-thaw.

6.Packthesampleforcoldshipment

6.1.Placebagwithspecimentubesintothealuminumcanandtightenthecap.

  • Donotputmorethan2tubesintoonecan.
  • Therecanbetwotubesinonebag,oronetubeeachintwobags,butpleasedonotstuffmorethan2tubesinonecan.

• Orderextracanisters,ifneeded.

6.2.Wrapthecompletedtestrequisition(s)and Supplemental Form aroundaluminumcanandplaceintocardboardcanistertube.

6.3.Tightenthecapandsecurewithtape.

6.4.Placethecardboardcanisterintotheinsulatedboxprovided.

6.5.Addpreviouslyfrozencold-packs(provided).Donotusewetice.

6.6.Addcushioningmaterialsothecontentsdon’trattle.

6.7.Closeoutercardboardboxandsealwithtape.

7.Sealtheboxwithtapeandlabelitforshipping.

  • Completethereturnaddress,BiologicalSubstancelabelandputitonthebox.
  • Makesuretheoutercardboardboxislabeled“Refrigerateonarrival”.

8.ShipthesamplestoMDHHSasquicklyaspossible.

  • Forexample,sendbycourier orUPS. (USPS1stclassmail may take too long for cold packs to hold temperature.)
  • Itisyour(thesender’s)responsibilitytobesuretheboxcomplieswithpackagingandshippingregulations.

ImportantNotes:
Thespecimenwillnotbe testedif:
  • Thesampleisleaking
/
  • The sample is not accompanied by serum

  • Thetestrequisitionor the Zika Supplemental Form isnotcompletelyfilledout.
/
  • If the sample is not received cold, PCR
testing will not be performed

DCH-0813 Dec 15, 2016By Authority ofAct368, P.A. 1978