Adenovirus

• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Conjunctival swab or scraping (for eye syndrome)
• CSF
• Urine (virus may be present if there is renal involvement)
• Rectal swabs or stool
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolates identified by fluorescent antibody staining and typed by neutralization.

Arbovirus

• Because arboviruses are usually no longer being shed by patients once they are ill enough to seek medical treatment, isolation attempts for arboviruses are rarely successful. Submitters desiring arbovirus isolation should contact the Virology laboratory. Since serologic testing is appropriate for the detection of arbovirus infections, acute and convalescent sera should also be submitted.

Coxsackie A Viruses

• Stool
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• CSF
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by neutralization

Coxsackie B Viruses

• Stool
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• CSF
• Pericardial fluid (myocarditis, pericarditis, pleurodynia)
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by neutralization

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

• Urine
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Bronch washes/biopsy (especially AIDS patients)
• Blood
• Turn-around time: 30 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining
• Note: Urine and respiratory specimens tested for CMV are routinely set up in shell vials. Shell vials are "blind" stained at 48 and 96 hours for the presence of CMV.

Echo Viruses

• Stool
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• CSF
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by neutralization

Enteroviruses (Coxsackie A, Coxsackie B, ECHO, and Polio viruses)

• Stool
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• CSF
• Pericardial fluid (coxsackie b only)
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by neutralization

Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV)

• Vesicle scrapings/fluid
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Brain biopsy (meningoencephalitis)
• Turn-around time: 7 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining
• The Virology Section does not subtype herpes-virus isolates.

Influenza Viruses

• Throat/nasopharyngeal (Note: Do not freeze)
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining
• Typing done by Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI)

Measles Virus

• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Urine
• Whole blood (buffy coat preferable to serum)
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining and/or complement fixation

Mumps Virus

• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Sputum
• Urine
• CSF
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining and/or complement fixation

Parainfluenza Viruses

• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Sputum
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining

Polio Viruses

• Stool
• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• CSF
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by neutralization
• The Virology Section should be promptly notified if the patient's diagnosis includes the possibility of polio.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining

Rhinoviruses

• Throat/nasopharyngeal
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by acid lability testing and fluorescent antibody staining

Rubella Virus

• The Virology laboratory does not routinely perform virus isolation testing for the rubella virus. Contact the Virology Section if rubella is suspected. Blood specimens for serologic testing should be drawn.

Varicella Zoster Virus

• Vesicle fluid
• Turn-around time: 14 days
• Isolate identification by fluorescent antibody staining

Limitations

Failure to isolate any specific virus does not rule out the viral agent as a cause of infection or disease.

References

Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology; 8th edition; Baron and Finegold editors; publisher; the C.V. Mosby company, St. Louis
Diagnostic Procedures for Viral, Rickettsial, and Chlamydial Infections, 6th edition; Schmidt and Emmons editors, American Public Health Association (APHA) publisher
written by Ronald C. Cheshier; 03/26/96