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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Rabies virus - Direct Detection in Animal Brain Tissue

Methodology: Direct fluorescent antibody
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Submit removed head (large animals) or entire animal (bats) to Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) (612) 625-8787
Shipping: Ship head or entire animal in 2 strong plastic bags refrigerated to the Vets Diagnostic Lab (612) 625-8787. Do not freeze.
Turnaround: 2 days

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

Rash Illness Panel

Tests Included in Panel: Culture, molecular, or immunological tests, including methods for Varicella Zoster Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 & 2, Vaccinia, orthopox viruses and bacteria as indicated by symptomology
Tests may be performed individually. See individual agent listing
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: Roof of lesion in a sterile container
Swab of lesion, dry or in transport medium. Contact lab for details.
Touch-prep (slide) of vesicular fluid
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: These tests are recommended for patients exhibiting acute, generalized, vesicular or pustular rash illness. For details on evaluating patients see the CDC poster "Evaluating Patients for Smallpox" (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/diagnosis/index.asp)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture, Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA)
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Nasal swab in viral transport medium
Throat swab in viral transport medium
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Culture results available within 7 days. DFA results available within 2 days.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - Detection of RNA in Clinical Samples

Methodology: PCR
Restrictions: Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at (651) 201-5414 or (877) 676-5414 before requesting this test.
Specimen: Nasopharyngeal swab, dry or in transport medium
Throat swab, dry or in transport medium
Nasal wash (0.5 ml)
Bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, tracheal aspirate (0.5 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: This test is for research use only.

Rickettsia rickettsii group - IgM and IgG Antibody Detection

Methodology: Indirect fluorescent antibody and Enzyme immunoassay
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: Acute phase serum or paired sera (1 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Comments: Sent to CDC

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

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

See: Rickettsia rickettsii

Rotavirus - Detection of RNA in Clinical Samples

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: Stool, fresh or in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: This test is for research use only.

Routine O&P

See: Parasite Examination, Intestinal

RSV

See: Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Rubella Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Nasal swab in viral transport medium
Throat swab in viral transport medium
Shipping: Ship within 24 hours at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: 14 days

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

Rubella Virus - IgM and IgG Antibody Detection

Methodology: Enzyme immunoassay for IgM, Latex agglutination for total antibodies
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Acute phase serum or paired sera (1 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: 1 working day of specimen receipt

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