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West Nile Virus Antibody, IgG & IgM, Serum  

 
IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see NUlirt Guide).

Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing will not be performed without all required information.

Please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459 for further clarification.

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Test: West Nile Virus Antibody IgG & IgM, Serum  
Synonym: WNV antibody 
Method: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay  
Availability: Testing is performed on Wednesday, results reported next day by 1700. Specimen must be received by 0700 on day of testing. Days performed may increase with seasonal demand for the test. Off season testing is within 14 days of specimen receipt in lab.  
Specimen: Whole Blood  
Collection Device: One 6.0 mL Gold (SST) tube.
Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and required 2 patient identifiers on specimen container and requisition forms  
Volume: 2.0 mL serum (Min: 1.0 mL)  
Storage/Transport: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into sterile leak proof tube, within 2 hours of collection.

Prior to and during shipment: Refrigerate 2-8°C; If transport of sample to the lab is not the same day as collected, frozen specimens are recommended.

Shipping instructions, including specimen-handling requirements during transport:
All screw-top tubes must be sealed with parafilm or tape. Vacutainer tubes do not require parafilm or tape to seal.
Package and ship as UN3373 Category B, Biological Substance. Place in biohazard bag with absorbent material. Refrigerated specimens should be shipped with frozen gel packs. Frozen specimen should be shipped on Dry Ice. Transport by NPHL ground courier (NPHL brown shipper not required). If courier not available, contact Client Services (866) 290-1406 to arrange pickup.
See instructions and shipping address: http://nphl.org  
Unacceptable: Specimen with repeated freeze/thaw cycles  
Specimen Stability: Ambient: 8 hrs; Refrigerated: 48 hrs; Frozen: 1month  
Reference Interval: IgG: Negative
IgM: Negative  
Reportable Disease: Positives will be reported to local or state health department.
Refer to Nebraska DHHS Title 173, Communicable Diseases 
Comments: Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Send documented approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

The Nebraska State Epidemiologist does not recommend screening for only West Nile IgG antibody. All requests for only IgG will be sent to a reference laboratory and will be charged to the submitter.  
Revised: 7/11/2019 
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459.

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