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Test Code EEEP Eastern Equine Encephalitis Antibody, IgG and IgM, Serum

Useful For

Aiding in the diagnosis of Eastern equine encephalitis using serum specimens

Method Name

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

Reporting Name

East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG and IgM, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.15 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject

Clinical Information

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is within the alphavirus group. It is a low prevalence cause of human disease in the Eastern and Gulf Coast states. EEE is maintained by a cycle of mosquito/wild bird transmission, peaking in the summer and early fall, when humans may become an adventitious host. The most common clinically apparent manifestation is a mild undifferentiated febrile illness, usually with headache.

 

Central nervous system involvement is demonstrated in only a minority of infected individuals; it is more abrupt and more severe with EEE than other arboviruses, with children being more susceptible to severe disease. Fatality rates are approximately 70% for EEE.

Cautions

All results must be correlated with clinical history and other data available to the attending physician.

 

Specimens collected within the first 2 weeks after onset are variably negative for IgG antibody and should not be used to exclude the diagnosis of arboviral disease. If arboviral infection is suspected, a second specimen should be collected and tested 10 to 21 days later.

 

Eastern equine encephalitis and Western equine encephalitis viruses show some cross-reactivity; however, antibody response to the infecting virus is typically at least 8-fold higher.

 

Usually, when an infection with an arbovirus is suspected, it is too late to isolate the virus or draw serum specimens to detect a rise of antibody titer.

Day(s) Performed

May through October: Monday through Friday

November through April: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 4 days

Specimen Retention Time

2 weeks

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86652 x 2

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
EEEP East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG and IgM, S 69034-7

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
83354 East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG, S In Process
83355 East Equine Enceph Ab, IgM, S In Process

Secondary ID

83155

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.

Testing Algorithm

For more information see Mosquito-borne Disease Laboratory Testing.