The Wadsworth Center Virology Laboratory is one of four public health laboratories in the United States contracted through a competitive process to perform diagnostic testing for viral VPDs using standardized methods developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Virology Laboratory works closely with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the CDC to provide quality testing to other public health laboratories and public health departments free of charge.
The Virology Laboratory currently provides measles, mumps, rubella and varicella-zoster virus rRT-PCR for detection and conventional RT-PCR for genotyping.
Sites outside of New York interested in enrolling as a submitting laboratory are encouraged to contact Kelly.wroblewski@aphl.org at APHL.
Test Menu
| Virus | Real-Time PCR | Molecular Genotyping* | Preferred Sample Type(s) | All Validated Sample Type(s)** | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measles virus | X | X | NPS or combined NPS/OPS, or urine | URS and urine | Please notify your local health dept. prior to submission |
| Mumps virus | X | X | Buccal swab | Buccal swab | Please notify your local health dept. prior to submission |
| Rubella virus | X | X | NPS or combined NPS/OPS, or urine | URS and urine | Please notify your local health dept. prior to submission |
| Varicella zoster virus | X | X | Lesion swab | Lesion swab, brain tissue, CSF and genital swabs | DO NOT FREEZE; Please notify your local health dept. prior to submission |
*Available upon request for special circumstances
**Submission of a different sample will require a Non-permitted Laboratory Test Form.
Contact Information for the Vaccine Preventable Disease Reference Center at Wadsworth Center:
Patrick Bryant, Ph.D., Director
P: (518) 474-4177
F: (518) 473-1326