Francisella tularensis Serology
| WSLH Department: | CDD - Communicable Disease Division |
| WSLH Test Code: | SS02023 |
| Availability: | Test is performed weekly |
| Turn-around Time: | 2-8 days |
| Recommended Uses: | To diagnose infection with Francisella tularensis in individuals with exposure history and/or skin ulcerations consistent with tularemia. |
| Contraindications: | |
| Additional Tests Performed: |
| Patient Preparations: | Routine blood draw |
| Specimen Requirements: | Minimum of 0.5 ml serum, SST |
| Specimen Handling & Transport: | Store serum specimen at 2-8 degrees C and transport with cool pack. |
| Collection Kit/Container: |
Serology Specimens
Sterile Transfer Tube |
| Collection Instructions: | Routine blood draw |
| Unacceptable Conditions: | |
| Requisition Form: |
CDD Requisition Form B
|
| Required Information: | Laboratory regulations require the following minimum information to be provided on the requisition form for a specimen to be accepted for testing: Patient name or unique identifier; date and time of collection, patient date of birth and sex, specimen type/site of collection, test request(s), clinician name and UPIN, and address for reporting results. Please be certain that name/identifier on the form matches that on the specimen label. |
| Results Include: | Titer and interpretation. Less than or equal to 1:40 Negative, 1:80 Equivocal, greater than or equal to 1:160 Positive on a single serum or a four-fold or greater rise in titer between acute and convalescent paired sera. |
| Limitations: | Cross-reactions may occur between Brucella and Francisella species. Positive test indicates current infection; low titers may indicate a previous exposure to Francisella or a related organism. |
| Additional Tests Recommended: | Brucella Antibody (SS02002) and Francisella tularensis culture (MP00400) |
| Additional Comments: | Tularemia in humans is incidental and is usually the result of interaction with wild animals and their environs. The organism penetrates the skin and an ulcer forms at the site of penetration which may persist for several months. It can also cause fever and in some cases pneumonia. |
| Methodology: | Microagglutination |
| Includes: | Quantitative direct agglutination assay for detection of IgG and IgM antibody to Francisella tularensis. |
| CPT Code: | 86668 |
| Price: | $63.00 |