Acute Communicable Disease Control

The Los Angeles County PHL Test Request Form must be completed for specimens to be processed. Failure to complete required fields on the requisition forms will result in specimen rejection or delayed testing. The form includes a two-page reporting and test requisition form as well as the specimen requirements and submission instructions found below. A separate test requisition form must be submitted for each specimen type. When using the PHL Test Request Form, please indicate "Zika PCR" in the Title 17/Other (Specify) box at the end of the form.

Specimen Requirements for Zika Testing
Note: requested sample volumes are for adults.

* Specimens must be received within 24 hours of collection.
**Do not use glass vacutainer tube for blood collection. Do not use tubes that contain anti-coagulants.
***To optimize evaluation of possible Zika virus infection on fetal tissues, please provide both formalin-fixed and unfixed tissues. If it is not possible to provide both types of tissues, prioritize formalin-fixed tissues. For additional information regarding collection of fetal or infant tissues, please contact the Public Health Laboratories for guidance.

Instructions for Test Requests
Samples submitted with incomplete intake information, incomplete patient history, incomplete or discrepant patient sample identifiers and labeling information, or incomplete test request forms will not be tested. On the PHL Test Request Form, please indicate "Zika PCR" in the Title 17/Other (Specify) box at the end of the form.

Provider may be required to complete additional forms for receiving results by fax if not currently a client of the Los Angeles County PHL.

Convalescent serum or an additional serum sample may be requested depending on laboratory results. Specimen Processing and Packaging
Proper storage and transport conditions preserve analyte integrity within the sample. Leaking specimens will also be rejected:

• Clinics able to process specimens may centrifuge blood and transfer serum to a separate, sterile, labeled tube
• Samples must be sent to the Los Angeles County PHL as soon as possible and within 24 hours of collection
• Each specimen type must come with its own test request form
• Each specimen must be packaged using individual biohazard specimen transport bags

Specimen Transport
Laboratory samples for Zika testing should not be sent directly to the California State Department of Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control.

Send samples to the Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories (PHL) as soon as possible and within 24 hours of collection.

Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories
12750 Erickson Avenue
Downey, CA 90242
Phone 562-658-1300
Fax 562-401-5999

Specimen transport conditions must be followed or sample will be rejected.

If a provider does not have access to courier services, PHL will help to arrange for sample pick up. Courier arrangements can be made by calling PHL Central Accessioning Unit at 562-658-1460.