The Clinical Guide to Services is a comprehensive reference guide of testing services, shipping information and submission requirements. Efforts have been made to be concise and current with all information, but as testing procedures and regulations change, some information may not be current. Many of these tests are only available with prior approval from MDH. It is impossible to address all situations in this guide, so please contact us with any questions.

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Eastern Equine Encephalitis

See: Arbovirus test listings

Echinococcus granulosus - Antibody Detection

See: Parasite Serology

Echinococcus granulosus - Detection of Hydatid Elements in Cyst Contents

Methodology: Microscopic examination
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Cyst material preserved in 10% formalin
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 1 working day
Comments: Absence of scolices or hooklets in cyst material does not rule out Hydatid disease.

Echovirus

See: Enterovirus

Encephalitis

See: Arbovirus Test listings, Individual agents

Encephalitozoon spp.

See: Microsporidia

Entamoeba histolytica - Antibody Detection

See: Parasite Serology

Entamoeba histolytica/dispar - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Formalin ethyl acetate concentration and Trichrome stain
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Stool preserved in both formalin and PVA - fill to line (kits are available from MDH)
Sigmoidoscopy scrapings or aspirates mixed with an equal volume of PVA
Abscess material mixed with an equal volume of PVA
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 3 working days
Comments: A minimum of 3 stool specimens collected on alternate days is recommended for diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis.

This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Entamoeba histolytica/dispar - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Specimen

Methodology: Microscopic Examination
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Prepared fecal concentrate
Stained or unstained permanent slides
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Not available

This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.

Enteric Bacterial Culture, Routine - Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Stool

Methodology: Culture
Agents Detected: Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., E. coli O157:H7, and Yersinia spp.
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml). Unpreserved stool samples must be received within 2 hours of collection.
Shipping: Ship preserved samples at room temperature. Transport fresh samples at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Negative results are reported within 3-4 working days. Positive results are phoned to the submitter as soon as available.

Enterobius vermicularis - Detection of Eggs in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Microscopic examination
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Commercial paddle
Cellophane tape transferred to a glass slide
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 1 working day
Comments: A minimum of 4-6 specimens collected on consecutive mornings is recommended for diagnosis. Eggs are not reliably found by routine parasite examination of stool.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)

See: Escherichia coli, Pathogenic, Escherichia coli O157:H7

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)

See: Escherichia coli, Pathogenic

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)

See: Escherichia coli, Pathogenic

Enterovirus - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture, Neutralization
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Throat swab (in viral transport medium), bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid
Respiratory fluids (1 ml) including bronchoalveolar lavage, nasal wash, pleural fluid
Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml), Raw Stool, Skin vesicle (see Rash Illness Panel)
CSF (1 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Culture results available within 14 days. 1 month for neutralization typing.
Comments: Encephalitis caused by viral agents must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.

Enterovirus - Detection of RNA in Clinical Samples

See also: Picornavirus
Methodology: PCR
Restrictions: Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at (651) 201-5414 or (877) 676-5414 before requesting this test.
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: CSF (0.5 ml)
Throat swab, dry or in viral transport medium
Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml)
Skin vesicle (see Rash Illness Panel)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: This test is for research use only. Encephalitis caused by viral agents must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.

Enterovirus - Identification/Subtyping of Referred Isolate

Methodology: Neutralization
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing enterovirus isolate on cell culture
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: Encephalitis caused by viral agents must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.

Escherichia coli K-1 - Antigen Detection

See: Meningitis, Bacterial

Escherichia coli O157:H7 - Antibody Detection

Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Serum, adults (3 ml)
Serum, children (0.5 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: Sent to CDC

This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Escherichia coli O157:H7 - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Escherichia coli O157:H7 - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture, Immunomagnetic separation
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml). Unpreserved stool samples must be received within 2 hours of collection.
Shipping: Ship preserved samples at room temperature. Transport fresh samples at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Negative results are available within 2-4 working days. Positive results are phoned to submitter as soon as available
Comments: Included in routine Enteric Bacterial Culture

This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Escherichia coli O157:H7 - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate

Methodology: Biochemical testing, Serotyping
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Identification from pure culture available within 4-6 working days

This disease is reportable. Isolates must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Escherichia coli O157:H7 - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Escherichia coli, Pathogenic - Detection/Identification/Confirmation

Methodology: Culture, biochemical testing, serotyping, PCR
Restrictions: Contact laboratory at (651) 201-5048 before requesting this test.
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Appropriate primary isolation plate
Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml). Unpreserved stool samples must be received within 2 hours of collection.
Shipping: Ship cultures or preserved stool samples at room temperature. Transport fresh stool samples at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: Tests may include PCR (this test is for research use only)