ADHS: Division of Public Health Services: Office of Public Health Microbiology: Virology Section

Office of Public Health Microbiology

The Virology Section of the State Laboratory is located inside the main State Laboratory building at 250 N. 17th Avenue in Phoenix. This section's responsibilities include the isolation and identification of viral agents from clinical specimens, the testing of reference specimens submitted as viral isolates from public and private laboratories for identification purposes, the testing of environmental samples for arbovirus isolation and identification, and the testing of animals for rabies.

In addition, the Virology Section acts as a transfer agent for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accepting specimens or isolates from public and private health facilities for submission to the CDC.

The Section Manager of the Virology Section is Cindy Yu (yuc@azdhs.gov). The Virology Section is staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, microbiologists equipped to perform emergency rabies testing are available Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The receiving staff are also working on weekends, so samples can be dropped-off on these days.

The Virology laboratory: (602) 542-6134
The Receiving Section: (602) 542-1190
State Lab main number: (602) 542-1188

For information on specific areas in the Virology Section please select from the following menu.

Virology Submission Policies
Rabies Testing Information
Viral Isolation and Identification

General Considerations
Viral Transport Media
Types of Specimens
Patient Information
Procedures for the Collection, Storage, Transport, and Submission of Individual Specimens
Guidance on the Selection of Specimen Sources for the Isolation of Specific Viruses