Human specimens:
CSF: Collect CSF in sterile, screw-cap tubes
Whole Blood: Red top or EDTA (Surveillance use only)
Urine: (Surveillance Use Only)
āāCSF: 1 mL
Whole blood: 5 mL (Surveillance use only)
āUrine: 1 mL
Whole blood: refrigerate specimens promptly after collection. Do not freeze whole blood. (Surveillance use only)
Ship refrigerated specimens to VRDL on cold packs. Ship frozen specimens to VRDL on dry ice.
Shipping Instructions
Work with your local public health department to ensure samples are packaged according to instructions for Biological Substance ā Category B (UN 3373) shipment.
Ship specimens and a hard copy of the completed submittal forms to:
CDPH VRDL
ATTN: Specimen Receiving
850 Marina Bay Parkway
Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: 510-307-8585
āWest Nile and Sāt. Louis āEncephalitis Viruses in California: Guidelines for Human Testing, āSurveillance, and Reporting (PDF)
Specimens should be collected as close to onset as possible.