| Test: | Chikungunya Virus Antibodies, IgM |
| Synonym: | Arbovirus, Chikungunya virus serology |
| Method: | ELISA |
| Availability: | Test performed Monday-Friday ; Turn-around time 7 days |
| Specimen: | Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) |
| Collection Device: | Clot (Red) or SST(Gold) tube CSF collection tube Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and require 2 patient identifiers on specimen container and requisition forms. |
| Volume: | Serum: 1 mL (minimum:0.5 mL). Additional testing for Zika and dengue requires separate containers. CSF: 1.0 mL |
| Storage/Transport: | Centrifuge and aliquot serum into sterile leak-proof tube, ASAP. Place both CSF and serum at 4°C. Shipping instructions, including specimen handling requirements during transport: Sender should contact the NPHL by email or phone before shipping. Ship specimen Monday -Thursday overnight to avoid weekend deliveries. Refrigerated, specimen should be shipped on cold packs. Package and ship as Category B, Biological Substance, UN3373. See instructions and shipping address: http://nphl.org/. Do not send directly to CDC. |
| Unacceptable: | Severely lipemic, icteric or hemolyzed samples; heat-inactivated serum; multiple freeze thaw cycles |
| Specimen Stability: | 2-8 °C for 72 hours, if > 3 days, freeze |
| Reference Interval: | Negative – No significant level of detectable chikungunya virus IgM antibody. Equivocal – Questionable presence of antibodies. Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful. Positive – IgM antibody to chikungunya virus detected, which may indicate a current or past infection. |
| Reportable Disease: | A positive result is reportable as Arbovirus infection under Title 173, report within 7 days |
| Comments: | 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. Supplemental Forms Required - NPHL Special Microbiology Requisition must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Virus-specific IgM antibodies may be detectable >3 days after onset of illness. However, serum collected within 7 days of illness onset may not have detectable virus-specific IgM antibodies and IgM testing should be repeated on a convalescent-phase sample to rule out infection in patients with a compatible clinical syndrome. |
| Revised: | 2/5/2016 |