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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Vaccinia Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples

See also: Rash Illness Panel
Methodology: Culture
Restrictions: Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at (651) 201-5414 or (877) 676-5414 before requesting this test.
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Vesicular lesion (see Rash Illness Panel)
Vesicular fluid sample in viral transport medium
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Sent to CDC; no turnaround time available.

Vaccinia Virus - Detection of DNA in Clinical Samples

See also: Rash Illness Panel
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: 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: Contact laboratory for transport instructions.
Turnaround: 1 day
Comments: This test is for research use only.

Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)

See: Staphylococcus aureus, Glycopeptide/Vancomycin Resistant (GRSA/VRSA)

Varicella Zoster Virus - Antigen Detection

See also: Rash Illness Panel
Methodology: Direct fluorescent antibody
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Scraping from base of lesion in viral transport medium
Primary viral isolate in tissue culture
Shipping: Ship clinical sample at refrigeration temperature.
Ship primary isolate at room temp.
Turnaround: Sent to CDC; no turnaround time available.

Varicella Zoster Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples

See also: Rash Illness Panel
Methodology: Culture
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Roof of lesion in a sterile container
Swab of lesion in viral transport medium.
Vesicular fluid sample in viral transport medium
Shipping: Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: 21 days

Varicella Zoster Virus - Detection of DNA in Clinical Samples

See also: Rash Illness Panel
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: 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: This test is for research use only.

Varicella Zoster Virus - IgM and IgG Antibody Detection

Methodology: Enzyme immunoassay
Restrictions: Contact Virology at (651) 201-5246 before requesting this test.
Fee Sticker: Required
Specimen: Acute phase serum or paired sera (1 ml)
Shipping: Ship at room or refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround: Sent to CDC; no turnaround time available.

Variola Virus

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.

Vibrio spp. (including V. cholerae) - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

See: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Vibrio spp. (including V. cholerae) - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate

Methodology: Biochemical testing, Serotyping, Biotyping
Restrictions: None
Fee Sticker: Not required
Specimen: Actively growing pure culture on suitable medium
Shipping: Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround: Identification from pure culture within 4-6 working days
This disease is reportable. Isolates must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040

Vibrio spp. (including V. cholerae) - Detection in Stool

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 in 3-4 working days. Positive results phoned to submitter as soon as available.

Viral Gastroenteritis

See: Individual Agents: Norovirus, Astrovirus, Adenovirus, Rotavirus

Viral Meningitis

See: Enterovirus

VISA (Vancomycin Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus)

See: Staphylococcus aureus, Glycopeptide/Vancomycin Intermediate (GISA/VISA)

Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxocara spp., Baylisascaris procyonis)

See: Parasite Serology

VRSA (Vancomycin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

See: Staphylococcus aureus, Glycopeptide/Vancomycin Resistant (GRSA/VRSA)

VZV

See: Varicella Zoster Virus