FLAVIVIRUS GENUS PCR

​During acute illness, especially when patients are still febrile, blood samples in EDTA (purple top) tubes(at least 3 fully-filled) is the sample of choice. For a number of flaviviruses (eg. dengue virus, Zika virus, yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, etc), viral RNA may remain detectable in the urine for prolonged periods of time after they are undetectable in the plasma. If clinically warranted, consider sending urine sample in addition for testing. Please note that such requests will be separately chargeable.

This assay has also been validated on urine, amniotic fluid and cerebro-spinal fluid(CSF) samples.
Please note that other sample types have not been validated on this new assay and will generally be rejected.

​To assist in the diagnosis of various flaviviral infections.

If Dengue or Zika infections are strongly suspected, please request for the Dengue PCR or the Zika PCR respectively instead, for higher sensitivity of detection, and faster turnaround times.

​Refrigerate sample at 2-8°C until transfer to laboratory. Do not freeze.  Sample should reach the laboratory as soon as possible preferably within 24 hours after collection.

​Hemi-nested Reverse-transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction and Sanger Sequencing (In-house assay).

​Detected, Not Detected or Inconclusive

​2-10 calendar days

​Variable