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    Tests Performed by DPHL

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    Tests Performed by DPHL

    Infectious Disease Testing at the Delaware Public Health Laboratory

     

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    Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Testing

    Syphilis serology:

    • Treponema pallidum Assay – IgM

      & IgG qualitative antibody detection

    • RPR screening test, qualitative

      and quantitative (special requests only)

    • TPPA confirmatory test
    • VDRL, qualitative and

      quantitative (cerebral spinal fluids only)

    Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

    and Trichomonas:

    • Nucleic acid amplification

      testing (NAAT)

    • Gonorrhea culture

    Human Immunodeficiency

    Virus (HIV):

    • 4th Generation Antigen/Antibody

      Immunoassay detection

    • HIV 1 and 2 differentiation

      Immunoassay confirmation

    • Geenius Confirmation

    Hepatitis C Virus

    (HCV):

    • HCV Antibody Immunoassay

      Detection

    • HCV Viral Load – quantitative

    Herpes Simplex Virus I

    & II (HSV) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV):

    • Multiplex PCR Assay

    Molecular Testing

    Molecular Assays by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):

    • Bordetella pertussis,

      parapertussis, or holmseii Multiplex

      Assay

    • Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex Multiplex Assay
    • Carbapenemase Resistant

      Organism Testing – multiple assays for resistance mechanisms (NDM, KPC, VIM, OXA-48, and IMP)

    • Suspected biothreat agents (See our Laboratory Preparedness page)
    • Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika Virus

      Multiplex Assay (requires consultation with Office of Infectious Disease

      Epidemiology – OIDE)

    • Eastern Equine Encephalitis

      (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) (animal organs and/or mosquitoes)

    • Molecular detection of Shigatoxin-producing E. coli (stx1, stx2, and wzy (0157))
    • Influenza A and B typing,

      Influenza A subtyping (H1N1 pandemic, H3N2); Influenza B genotyping

      (B/Yamagata, B/Victoria). Detection of avian strains (H5N1 and H7N9)

      (requires consultation with OIDE)

    • CDC Respiratory Virus Panel

      with respiratory targets (Panel 1-Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Human

      Metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus, Parainfluenza 1 & 3, and Adenovirus. Panel

      2- Parainfluenza virus 2 & 4, Human coronaviruses 229E, Oc43, HKU1,

      NL63)

    • Measles and Mumps viruses
    • Norovirus type GI and GII

      Multiplex Assay

    •  2019 SARS-CoV-2 Assay
    • 2019 SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, B

      Multiplex Assay

    Immunoassay/Antigen/Antibody

    • West Nile Virus (WNV); Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE); IgM Microsphere immunoassay (human serum and spinal fluid)
    • WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) – IgM Enzyme immunoassay performed on chicken blood, for the detection of WNV and EEE in chickens placed around areas with high mosquito prevalence (in summer months). Also known as “sentinel chicken” program.
    • Rabies detection by Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) from brain stem and cerebellum (requires OIDE consultation) and Rabies PCR.

    Routine Bacteriology

    • Stool Culture
    • Urine Culture
    • Throat Culture
    • Wound or Miscellaneous Culture
    • Tissue Culture
    • Carbapenemase Detection –

      modified Carbapenemase Inactivation Method (mCIM) and molecular detection by real time PCR (listed above)

    • Confirmation of Enteric

      Pathogens – Salmonella species. Shigella species,

      Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes,

      Vibrio species, Campylobacter spp.

    • Pathogenic microorganism identification (MALDI-ToF)
    • Antibiotic Susceptibility

      Testing

    • Non-Candida albicans yeast surveillance testing
    • Legionella Urine Antigen

    Outbreak Surveillance – Foodborne or Clinical:

    • Campylobacter spp. – Culture Confirmation and WGS
    • Listeria monocytogenes – Culture Confirmation and WGS
    • Salmonella spp. – Culture Confirmation and WGS
    • Shigella spp. – Culture Confirmation and WGS
    • Vibrio spp. – Culture Confirmation and WGS.
    • Shiga-toxin producing E.

      coli (STEC) – Culture, PCR, and WGS

    • Bioterrorism Agents – Culture and PCR
    • Bacillus cereus – Culture

    Mycobacteriology:

    • Specimen digestion and

      concentration

    • AFB smear (Auramine O or

      Kinyoun) and culture

    • Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) antimicrobial susceptibility

      testing

    • MTBC and MAC PCR (listed above))
    • Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA)

    Tests Performed by

    the State Clinic Labs:

    • Urine Dip Stick
    • Pregnancy – Urine
    • HIV Rapid
    • Hemocue

    • Blood Lead

    Visit our Laboratory Preparedness page for testing forms and procedures related to agents of biological and

    chemical terrorism.

    Return to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory home page.

    This page was last updated 1/24

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