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.

Saint Louis Encephalitis

See: Arbovirus test listings

Salmonella spp. - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Salmonella spp. - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture
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 available within 2-4 working days. Positive results 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

Salmonella spp. - 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

Salmonella spp. - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

SARS

See: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Schistosoma spp. - Antibody Detection

See: Parasite Serology

Schistosoma spp. - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Concentration and Microscopic Examination
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Stool preserved in both formalin and PVA - fill to line (kits are available from MDH)
Urine - 15 ml, no preservatives
Shipping: Ship preserved stool at room temperature, urine at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Within 3 working days
Comments: S. haematobium eggs are usually detected in urine but may be found in stool. Eggs of other Schistosoma spp. are found primarily in stool. Multiple examinations may be required to detect eggs in light or chronic infections.

Schistosoma spp. - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Samples

See: Parasite Identification

Schistosomiasis

See: Schistosoma spp.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - Antibody Confirmation

Methodology: Enzyme Immunoassay (Laboratory Response Network Protocol)
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: Serum (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

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture
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: Nasopharyngeal wash (1 ml)
Nasopharyngeal swab in viral transport medium
Throat swab in viral transport medium
Bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, tracheal aspirate (1 ml)
Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: 21 days
Comments: Positive results must be confirmed by CDC

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

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - Detection of RNA in Clinical Samples

Methodology: PCR (Laboratory Response Network protocols)
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: Nasopharyngeal wash (0.5 ml)
Nasopharyngeal swab in viral transport medium
Throat swab in viral transport medium
Bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, tracheal aspirate (0.5 ml)
Stool in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: 1 day
Comments: This test is for research use only. Positive test results are to be considered preliminary until confirmed by the CDC.

Shigella spp. - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Culture
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 available within 2-4 working days. Positive results 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

Shigella spp. - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Shigella spp. - 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

Shigella spp. - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Smallpox

See: Rash Illness Panel

Restrictions: If smallpox is suspected, call Division of Disease Prevention and Control immediately at (651) 201-5414 or (800) 676-5414.

Sporothrix schenkii - Antibody Detection

See: Fungal Serology

Sporothrix schenkii - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate

See: Fungus identification

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B - Detection in Non-Clinical Samples

Staphylococcus aureus, Gastrointestinal Disease - Detection in Stool or Implicated Food

Methodology: Culture
Restrictions: Done for investigation of foodborne illness only. 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 in ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair or equivalent - fill to line (approximately 5 ml)
Implicated food - minimum of 10 g in original container or transferred to sterile container using sterile instruments.
Shipping: Ship stool at room temperature, food at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available

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

Staphylococcus aureus, Gastrointestinal Disease - Detection of Enterotoxin A, B, C, D in Food or Culture Filtrate

Methodology: Reversed passive latex agglutination
Restrictions: Done for investigation of foodborne illness only. Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at (651) 201-5414 or (877) 676-5414 before requesting this test.
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Implicated food - minimum of 10 g in original container or transferred to sterile container using sterile instruments.
Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship food at refrigeration temperature, cultures at room temperature.
Turnaround: Not available

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

Staphylococcus aureus, Glycopeptide/Vancomycin Resistant (GRSA/VRSA) - Confirmation of Vancomycin MIC = 32 ug/ml

Methodology: MIC determination by multiple methods
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 2-5 working days of specimen receipt
Comments: Call MDH laboratory at (651) 201-5073 immediately if GRSA/VRSA is suspected.

Staphylococcus aureus, Glycopeptide/Vancomycin Intermediate (GISA/VISA) - Confirmation of Vancomycin MIC = 4 ug/ml

Methodology: MIC determination by multiple methods
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 2-5 working days of specimen receipt
Comments: Call MDH laboratory at (651) 201-5073 immediately if GISA/VISA is suspected.

Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant (MRSA) - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate

Methodology: MIC determination by multiple methods
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 2-3 working days

Severe disease or death caused by this agent is reportable. Isolates or material positive by a non-culture method must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant (MRSA) - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Staphylococcus aureus, Toxic Shock - Toxin Detection

Methodology: Immunologic detection of TSST-1, and enterotoxins A, B, and C
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Varies
Comments: Sent to University of Minnesota

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

Streptococcus pneumoniae - Antigen Detection in CSF

See: Meningitis, Bacterial

Streptococcus pneumoniae - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Streptococcus pneumoniae - Detection of DNA 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: CSF (0.5 ml)
Serum (0.5 ml)
Bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, tracheal aspirate (0.5 ml)
Nasopharyngeal swab, dry or in transport medium
Throat swab, dry or in transport medium
Whole EDTA blood (0.5 ml)
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Not available
Comments: This test is for research use only.

Invasive disease caused by this agent is reportable. All isolates from cases of invasive disease must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Streptococcus pneumoniae - Identification/Confirmation/Serotyping of Referred Isolate

Methodology: Biochemical testing, Capsular serotyping
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 2-4 working days

Invasive disease caused by this agent is reportable. All isolates from cases of invasive disease must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Streptococcus pneumoniae - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Streptococcus, Group A - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Streptococcus, Group A - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate

Methodology: Biochemical testing, Serogrouping
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 2-4 working days

Invasive disease caused by this agent is reportable. All invasive isolates must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Streptococcus, Group A - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Streptococcus, Group A - Toxin Detection

Methodology: Immunologic detecion of pyrogenic erythrotoxins (speA, speB, speC)
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Varies
Comments: Sent to University of Minnesota

Invasive disease caused by this agent is reportable. All isolates from cases of invasive disease must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Streptococcus, Group B - Antigen Detection in CSF

See: Meningitis, Bacterial

Streptococcus, Group B - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Streptococcus, Group B - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate

Methodology: Biochemical testing, Serogrouping
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Within 2-4 working days

Invasive disease caused by this agent is reportable. All isolates from cases of invasive disease must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Streptococcus, Group B - Molecular Subtyping

See: Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Strongyloides spp. - Antibody Detection

See: Parasite Serology

Strongyloides spp. - Detection in Clinical Samples

Methodology: Microscopic examination
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Stool preserved in both formalin and PVA - fill to line (kits are available from MDH); Duodenal contents (aspiration or Entero-Test capsule)
Identification/confirmation: prepared fecal or duodenal sample
Other specimen types, contact laboratory for information
Shipping: Ship preserved stool at room temperature, duodenal contents at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Within 3 working days

Strongyloides spp. - Identification/Confirmation in Referred Sample

See: Parasite, Identification

Syphilis

See: Treponema pallidum