Mpox Virus real-time PCR

Clinical Virology Laboratory

Testing will be performed only by request from a clinical microbiologist/virologist or infectious diseases consultant. Request form must include relevant clinical details and state the clinician who has approved the test. This is a notifiable disease.

Area

Health Science

Lab name

Clinical Virology Laboratory

Lab location

Wallaceville Science Centre, Upper Hutt

Test name

Mpox virus real-time PCR

Organisms

Monkeypox virus (Family: Poxviridae, Genus: Orthopoxvirus)

Requested for surveillance

yes

Notice required

yes

Sample requirements

Skin swabs of the lesions collected in viral transport media. Please state the body site of the swab collected.

Media requirements

Viral transport media

Specimen requirements

Serum (~1 mL)

Clinical details including travel history, symptoms and date of symptom onset must be provided for testing to be performed.

Pre-transport requirements

5 ± 3°C within 24 hours

Transport requirements

5 ± 3°C within 24 hours

How results reported

Report will state whether Mpox virus is detected or not detected

Turnaround time

2 working days

Referral link

Form