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West Nile Virus Ab (IgG/IgM), Serum
Test CodeWN
Alias/See Also
West Nile Virus Antibodies (IgG, IgM), ELISA, Serum
Quest Code
36596
Quest Code
36596
CPT Codes
86788, 86789
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum collected in a serum separator tube (SST)
Minimum Volume
0.7 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
1 mL serum collected in a no additive (red-top) tube, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Methodology
Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)
Setup Schedule
Monday, Wednesday, Friday a.m.
Report Available
Next day
Limitations
Cross reactivity has been observed between alphavirus group and flavivirus group, e.g., yellow fever or yellow fever vaccination.
Clinical Significance
The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. Like other arboviruses (e.g., St. Louis Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, and Yellow Fever), its main route of transmission to humans is through mosquitoes (primarily culex species) that have acquired the virus from infected birds. A single elevated WNV result, including IgM that may persist for many months, could represent past infection with WNV or infection with another flavivirus including Dengue and St. Louis Encephalitis. Diagnosis of suspected WNV infection is confirmed by isolation of WNV or detection of WNV antigen or nucleic acid sequences in clinical samples or detection of WNV-specific IgM in blood or spinal fluid, confirmed with detection of WNV-specific neutralizing antibody in the same or a subsequent sample.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
Chantilly, VA
