Skip to main content
Minnesota Department of Health logo
  • Main navigation

    • Home
    • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
    • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
    • Individual and Family Health
    • About Us
    • News and Announcements
    • Translated Materials

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Data, Statistics, and Legislation
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Health Care Facilities, Providers, and Insurance
  • Healthy Communities, Environment, and Workplaces
  • Individual and Family Health
  • About Us
  • News and Announcements
  • Translated Materials
MDH Logo

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Diseases and Conditions
  3. The Infectious Disease Laboratory
  4. Clinical Guide to Services
Topic Menu

Clinical Guide To Services

  • Clinical Guide to Services Home
  • List of Tests
  • Contact Information

Infectious Disease Laboratory

  • Infectious Disease Laboratory Home
  • CLIA Certificate
  • Contact Information
  • Fee Schedule
  • Forms
  • Guide to Services
  • Lab Disease Spotlight
  • New COVID-19 Submission Update
  • Packing & Shipping

Related Topics

  • Public Health Laboratory Home

Clinical Guide To Services

  • Clinical Guide to Services Home
  • List of Tests
  • Contact Information

Infectious Disease Laboratory

  • Infectious Disease Laboratory Home
  • CLIA Certificate
  • Contact Information
  • Fee Schedule
  • Forms
  • Guide to Services
  • Lab Disease Spotlight
  • New COVID-19 Submission Update
  • Packing & Shipping

Related Topics

  • Public Health Laboratory Home
Contact Info
Public Health Laboratory
651-201-5200
health.mdhlab@state.mn.us

Contact Info

Public Health Laboratory
651-201-5200
health.mdhlab@state.mn.us

Tests for Agents Beginning with “M”

The Clinical Guide to Services, from Minnesota’s Infectious Disease Laboratory

The Clinical Guide to Services is a comprehensive reference guide of testing services, shipping information, and submission requirements for Minnesota’s Infectious Disease Laboratory.

Even though there are ongoing efforts to keep information current, some information may not be up to date due to recent changes in testing procedures and/or regulation. Many of these tests are only available with prior approval from the Minnesota Department of Health.

If you cannot find what you are looking for in the guide, please Contact the Infectious Disease Laboratory.

Alphabetical by Agent

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | IJK | L | M | N |
O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ


Test Name Malaria
  See: Plasmodium spp.
Test Name Marburg Virus
  See: BioFire NGDS Warrior Panel
Test Name Measles Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples
Methodology Culture
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information Confirmation of isolates only. This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Actively growing measles isolate on cell culture.
Shipping Ship at room temperature.
Turnaround 21 days
Test Name Measles Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples
Methodology RT-PCR
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Throat swab (preferred up to 9 days post onset), Urine (if 5 or more days post onset), Buccal swab, Nasal swab, Nasopharyngeal swab, Nasal wash, Nasopharyngeal wash, CSF if suspected meningitis or encephalitis, Isolate.
Respiratory sources: Viral transport media, VTM, UTM, M5, M4, Saline, PBS, Liquid Stuarts; Urine and CSF in sterile container.
3 mL preferred/140 uL minimum.

See:
Lab Testing for Measles at the MDH PHL
Shipping Store and ship at refrigerated temperature within 7 days of collection. Alternatively, ship frozen within 1 year of collection.
Turnaround 1-3 days
Test Name Measles Virus - Serology
Methodology Capture IgM Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Indirect IgG ELISA
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information Sent to CDC. Performed as Measles Serology CDC-10244. This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Collect blood in a red-top or serum-separator tube (SST). Tubes containing whole blood should not be stored frozen (-20°C or lower). Centrifuge blood collection tubes (10 minutes at 1000 – 1300 g) to separate serum from clot. Gel separation tubes should be centrifuged no more than 2 hours after collection. Aseptically transfer serum to a sterile tube that has an externally threaded cap with an o–ring seal.

Refrigerate serum (2-8°C) within 8 hours of collection. Serum samples should not be stored at room temperature (15-25°C) for longer than 8 hours after collection. If the samples will be stored for more than 48 hours, freeze specimens (-20°C or lower).
Shipping Ship at storage temperature.
Turnaround 7 days after receipt at CDC
Test Name Meningitis, Bacterial - PCR Panel
Methodology PCR
Tests Included in Panel: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae
Tests may be performed individually.
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This disease is reportable. Isolates must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen CSF (0.5 ml) and isolates are preferred
Whole EDTA blood (0.5 ml)
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Not available
Test Name Meningitis, Viral
  See: Enterovirus
Test Name Meningococcemia
  See: Neisseria meningitidis
Test Name Meningococcus
  See: Neisseria meningitidis
Test Name Meningoencephalitis, Viral
  See: Arbovirus Panel, Enterovirus, other individual agents as indicated.
Test Name Metapneumovirus, human
Methodology PCR
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This test is for research use only.
Specimen Nasopharyngeal swab, dry or in viral transport medium
Throat swab, dry or in viral transport medium
Nasal wash (0.5 ml)
Bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, tracheal aspirate (0.5 ml)
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Not available
Test Name Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  See: Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant
Test Name Microfilariae
  See: Filarial nematodes
Test Name Microsporidia (Encephalitozoon spp.) - Detection of DNA in Clinical Samples
Methodology PCR
Pre-Approval Contact laboratory at 651-201-5048 before requesting this test
Supplemental Information This test is for research use only. Test differentiates Encephalitozoon intestinalis, E. hellum, and E. cuniculi
Specimen Stool, fresh
Stool sample in non-formalin preservative or transport medium (e.g. PVA, EcoFix Cary-Blair)
Shipping Unpreserved stool or stool in Cary-Blair: ship at refrigeration temperature
Stool in preservative: ship at room or refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Not available
Test Name Monkeypox virus - Detection of DNA in Clinical Samples
Methodology PCR
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information Testing at IDL is for Non-variola Orthopoxvirus; confirmatory testing for specific Orthopoxvirus (i.e. monkeypox, vaccinia, etc) is performed at CDC.
Order Choice: Non-Variola Orthopoxvirus PCR
Specimen
    MDH can perform testing on
  • Dry lesion swab specimens (swabs received in transport media will be rejected)
  • Lesion crusts or scabs
    Specimen collection
  • Collect samples from more than one lesion, preferably from different locations on the body and/or from lesions with differing appearances
  • Collect two swabs per each lesion
  • Lesion crusts or scabs must be submitted with a swab from the same lesion
  • Vigorously swab or brush lesion with two separate sterile dry nylon, polyester, or Dacron swabs
  • Place two swabs from one lesion in one sterile container; break off end of applicator of each swab into a 1.5mL or 2mL screw-capped tube with an O-ring (preferred) or place two swabs from one lesion in one sterile container
  • Use separate sterile containers for each set of same lesion swabs
  • Refrigerate within 1 hour of collection
Shipping Specimens must be shipped at refrigeration temperature and received within 7 days of collection.
Turnaround 1-3 days for screening at MDH-PHL. CDC confirmation results for presumptive positives when available
Test Name MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
  See: Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-Resistant
Test Name Mumps Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples
Methodology Culture
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Buccal or throat swab in viral transport medium
Urine (>1 ml) in a sterile container
CSF (>1 ml)
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround 14 days
Test Name Mumps Virus - Detection in Clinical Samples
Methodology PCR
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Buccal preferred. Throat swab, urine is acceptable if 5 days or more after symptom onset.
Shipping Ship within 24 hours at refrigeration temperature
Turnaround 2 working days upon receipt of specimen
Test Name Mumps Virus - IgG Antibody Detection
Methodology Enzyme Immunoassay
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Congenital or acute phase serum or paired sera
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Sent to CDC.
No turnaround time available.
Test Name Mycobacterium avium Complex
  See: Mycobacterium spp. (not tuberculosis)
Test Name Mycobacterium bovis and bovis BCG - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate
Methodology Varies - Sent to CDC
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information M. bovis and M. bovis BCG are members of the M. tuberculosis complex. Speciation may be requested if there has been consumption of unpasteurized dairy products ( M. bovis ) or complications of BCG therapy for bladder cancer or vaccine. Sent to CDC for speciation.
Specimen Actively growing culture on suitable solid medium
Growth in MGIT tube
Shipping Ship at room temperature, sealed culture system.
Turnaround Not available
Test Name Mycobacterium spp. - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate
Methodology Line probe assay, Nucleic acid probe, conventional biochemicals
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information Fee $66 - $68 per sample
Specimen Actively growing pure culture on suitable solid medium
Growth in MGIT tube
Shipping Ship at room temperature, sealed culture system.
Turnaround Line probe and DNA probe results available within 3 working days. Biochemical identification varies.
Test Name Mycobacterium spp. (not tuberculosis) - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Methodology
Pre-Approval  
Supplemental Information Isolates must be requested from MDH Mycobacteria Lab at 651-201-5053. Isolate will be sent back to submitting lab.
Specimen  
Shipping  
Turnaround 48 Hours
Test Name Mycobacterium spp. (not tuberculosis) - Detection in Clinical Samples
Methodology Concentrated acid-fast smear, Culture
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information Fee $66 - $68 per sample
Specimen See Specimen Requirements for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB)
Shipping Ship blood and bone marrow at room temperature, other specimens at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Smear available within 1 working day.
Negative culture results available after 6 weeks of incubation.
Test Name Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, First-Line Drugs
Methodology Performed by MGIT 960 method
Drugs Included in Panel: isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide
Done automatically on initial patient isolate and subsequent isolates with evidence of treatment failure.
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Actively growing pure culture on suitable solid medium
Growth in MGIT tube
Shipping Ship at room temperature, sealed culture system.
Turnaround Usually within 14 days of receipt or isolation of organism.
Test Name Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, Second-line Drugs
Methodology Send to CDC
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information Sent automatically on isolates resistant to 2 or more first-line drugs, or resistant to rifampin only.
This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Actively growing pure culture on suitable solid medium
Growth in MGIT tube
Shipping Ship at room temperature, sealed culture system.
Turnaround Varies
Test Name Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex - Detection in Clinical Samples
Methodology Concentrated acid-fast smear, Culture
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information This disease must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen See Specimen Requirements for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB)
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Smear available within 1 working day.
Negative culture results available after 6 weeks of incubation.
Test Name Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex and Mycobacterium avium Complex - Direct Testing
Methodology PCR
Pre-Approval TB disease must be suspected.
Supplemental Information

AFB smear result must accompany request if submitting digested sample. AFB smear negative specimens will not receive MAC PCR results.
M. tuberculosis must be reported to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.

Specimen Respiratory specimen or NALC digested/decontaminated respiratory specimen.
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Within 1 working day.
Test Name Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex - Identification/Confirmation of Referred Isolate
Methodology Line probe assay, Nucleic acid probe and conventional biochemicals
Pre-Approval None
Supplemental Information This disease is reportable. Isolates must be submitted to MDH as required by State Rule 4605.7040.
Specimen Actively growing pure culture on suitable solid medium
Growth in MGIT tube
Shipping Ship at room temperature, sealed culture system.
Turnaround Line probe and DNA probe results available within 3 working days.
Test Name Mycoplasma pneumoniae - Detection of DNA in Clinical Samples
Methodology PCR
Pre-Approval Contact Infectious Disease Epidemiology Prevention and Control at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 before requesting this test.
Supplemental Information This test is for research use only.
Specimen Nasopharyngeal or throat swab, dry or in transport medium
Sputum (0.5 ml)
Bronchoalveolar lavage, pleural fluid, tracheal aspirate (0.5 ml)
Bronch wash (0.5 ml)
Shipping Ship at refrigeration temperature.
Turnaround Not available
Tags
  • infectious disease lab
Last Updated: 11/10/2022

Get email updates


Minnesota Department of Health logo

Privacy Policy
Equal Opportunity
Translated Materials
Feedback Form
About MDH
Minnesota.gov
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of health print search share facebook instagram linkedin twitter youtube