ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

0098733: Eastern Equine Encephalitis Antibody, IgM by IFA, Serum

Test Mnemonic: EAST M SER
Methodology: Indirect Fluorescent Antibody

Performed: Tue, Fri

Reported: 1-5 days

Specimen Required:  
Collect: One 4 mL SST.

Transport: 1 mL serum at 2-8°C.  (Min: 0.5 mL)  Submit specimen in an ARUP Standard Transport Tube.

Pediatric Collection/Transport: 0.15 mL serum at 2-8°C.

Remarks: Acute and convalescent specimens must be labeled as such; parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Please mark specimens plainly as "acute" or "convalescent."

Unacceptable Conditions: Plasma.  Heat-inactivated, severely lipemic, contaminated, or hemolyzed specimens.

Stability: After separation from cells: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Reference Interval:
Less than 1:16

Interpretive Data:
This test is intended to be used as a semi-quantitative means of detecting eastern equine encephalitis virus-specific IgM in serum samples in which there is a clinical suspicion of eastern equine encephalitis virus infection.  A positive result for IgM may suggest current or recent infection.  This test should not be used solely for quantitative purposes, nor should the results be used without correlation to clinical history or other data.  Because other members of the Alphavirus family, such as western equine encephalitis virus, show extensive cross-reactivity with eastern equine encephalitis virus, serologic testing specific for these species should also be performed.



CPT Code(s):
86652