Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Testing

Syphilis serology:

• Treponema pallidum Assay – IgM & IgG qualitative antibody detection
• RPR screening test, qualitative and quantitative (special requests only)
• TPPA confirmatory test
• VDRL, qualitative and quantitative (cerebral spinal fluids only)

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomonas:

• Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT)
• Gonorrhea culture

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):

• 4th Generation Antigen/Antibody Immunoassay detection
• HIV 1 and 2 differentiation Immunoassay confirmation
• Geenius Confirmation

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV):

• HCV Antibody Immunoassay Detection
• HCV Viral Load – quantitative

Herpes Simplex Virus I & II (HSV) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV):

• Multiplex PCR Assay

Molecular Testing

Molecular Assays by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):

• Bordetella pertussis, parapertussis, or holmseii Multiplex Assay
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex Multiplex Assay
• Carbapenemase Resistant Organism Testing – multiple assays for resistance mechanisms (NDM, KPC, VIM, OXA-48, and IMP)
• Suspected biothreat agents (See our Laboratory Preparedness page)
• Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika Virus Multiplex Assay (requires consultation with Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology – OIDE)
• Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) (animal organs and/or mosquitoes)
• Molecular detection of Shigatoxin-producing E. coli (stx1, stx2, and wzy (0157))
• Influenza A and B typing, Influenza A subtyping (H1N1 pandemic, H3N2); Influenza B genotyping (B/Yamagata, B/Victoria). Detection of avian strains (H5N1 and H7N9) (requires consultation with OIDE)
• CDC Respiratory Virus Panel with respiratory targets (Panel 1-Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Human Metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus, Parainfluenza 1 & 3, and Adenovirus. Panel 2- Parainfluenza virus 2 & 4, Human coronaviruses 229E, Oc43, HKU1, NL63)
• Measles and Mumps viruses
• Norovirus type GI and GII Multiplex Assay
•  2019 SARS-CoV-2 Assay
• 2019 SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, B Multiplex Assay

Immunoassay/Antigen/Antibody

• West Nile Virus (WNV); Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE); IgM Microsphere immunoassay (human serum and spinal fluid)
• WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) – IgM Enzyme immunoassay performed on chicken blood, for the detection of WNV and EEE in chickens placed around areas with high mosquito prevalence (in summer months). Also known as "sentinel chicken" program.
• Rabies detection by Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) from brain stem and cerebellum (requires OIDE consultation) and Rabies PCR.

Routine Bacteriology

• Stool Culture
• Urine Culture
• Throat Culture
• Wound or Miscellaneous Culture
• Tissue Culture
• Carbapenemase Detection – modified Carbapenemase Inactivation Method (mCIM) and molecular detection by real time PCR (listed above)
• Confirmation of Enteric Pathogens – Salmonella species. Shigella species, Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio species, Campylobacter spp.
• Pathogenic microorganism identification (MALDI-ToF)
• Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing
• Non-Candida albicans yeast surveillance testing
• Legionella Urine Antigen

Outbreak Surveillance - Foodborne or Clinical:

• Campylobacter spp. - Culture Confirmation and WGS
• Listeria monocytogenes - Culture Confirmation and WGS
• Salmonella spp. - Culture Confirmation and WGS
• Shigella spp. - Culture Confirmation and WGS
• Vibrio spp. - Culture Confirmation and WGS.
• Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) - Culture, PCR, and WGS
• Bioterrorism Agents - Culture and PCR
• Bacillus cereus - Culture

Mycobacteriology:

• Specimen digestion and concentration
• AFB smear (Auramine O or Kinyoun) and culture
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) antimicrobial susceptibility testing
• MTBC and MAC PCR (listed above))
• Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA)

Tests Performed by the State Clinic Labs:

• Urine Dip Stick
• Pregnancy – Urine
• HIV Rapid
• Hemocue
• Blood Lead

Visit our Laboratory Preparedness page for testing forms and procedures related to agents of biological and chemical terrorism.

Return to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory home page.

This page was last updated 1/24

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