{"id":10395,"date":"2025-03-01T14:07:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan421\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:55:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:55:04","slug":"dhan421","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan421\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan421 ~  Division of Public Health  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan421.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->421 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->March 10, 2020 2:17 pm <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  \n\n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdvisory<!--[END]-->\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCOMMERCIAL LABORATORY TESTING FOR THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19)<!--[END]-->\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is issuing this health advisory to provide health care providers with \n\n\n\n\n\n\nan update to the laboratory testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).<\/p> \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Commercial laboratory testing for COVID-19 is available (LabCorp, Quest, Mayo)<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Testing is still available at the Delaware Public Health Laboratory<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>COVID-19 is a reportable condition<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>If there is a strong clinical suspicion of COVID-19, call 1-888-295-5156 to consult with DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, or report through <a href=\"mailto:reportdisease@delaware.gov\">reportdisease@delaware.gov<\/a>, within 24 hours of submission of test samples to a commercial lab, to allow for surveillance and monitoring as appropriate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>COVID-19 testing is now available from at least one commercial laboratory, with additional laboratories expected to \n\n\n\n\n\n\nbegin to offer testing over the next several days. Testing is still available through the Delaware Public Health Laboratory. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse only synthetic fiber swabs with plastic shafts. Do not use calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden shafts, as they may \n\n\n\n\n\n\ncontain substances that inactivate some viruses and inhibit PCR testing. Place swabs immediately into sterile tubes containing \n\n\n\n\n\n\n2-3 ml of viral transport media. NP and OP specimens may be kept in separate vials or combined at collection into a single vial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Clinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the \n\n\n\n\n\n\npatient should be tested. Decisions on which patients receive testing should be based on the local epidemiology of COVID-19, as well \n\n\n\n\n\n\nas the clinical course of illness. Clinicians are strongly encouraged to test for other causes of respiratory illness, including \n\n\n\n\n\n\ninfections such as influenza. For guidance on how to submit to a commercial laboratory, refer to the guidance the commercial \n\n\n\n\n\n\nlaboratories provide as they come online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 have developed fever and\/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty \n\n\n\n\n\n\nbreathing). Priorities for testing may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in order to inform decisions related to infection control;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Other symptomatic individuals such as older adults (age > 65 years) and individuals with chronic medical conditions and\/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease);<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Any persons including healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographic areas where sustained community transmission has been identified (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/travelers\/index.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/travelers\/index.html<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Initially, laboratory testing was only available via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention upon request by DPH.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nDPH\u2019s State Lab began testing for the disease on Monday March 4, 2020.  Testing at the State Lab still requires DPH approval.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTesting at commercial labs does not require DPH approval; however, if there is a strong clinical suspicion of COVID-19, clinicians \n\n\n\n\n\n\nshould call 1-888-295-5156 to consult with DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, or report through <a href=\"mailto:reportdisease@delaware.gov\">reportdisease@delaware.gov<\/a>, within 24 hours of submission of test samples to a commercial lab, to allow for surveillance and monitoring as appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Recommendations\/Reporting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>COVID-19 is a reportable condition to the DPH. Any positive test results from any laboratory must be reported to DPH via the Delaware Electronic Reporting Surveillance System (DERSS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>If you have a strong clinical suspicion that a patient may be infected with COVID-19 based on clinical symptoms and epidemiological factors (e.g., close contact with a confirmed case, recent travel to an area with sustained transmission), contact the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 1-888-295-5156, or report through <a href=\"mailto:reportdisease@delaware.gov\">reportdisease@delaware.gov<\/a> within 24 hours leading to submission of test samples to a commercial lab to allow for surveillance and monitoring as appropriate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Additional Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>For a complete list of CDC\u2019s clinical resources, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/index.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/index.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4>LabCorp<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.labcorp.com\/tests\/139900\/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-naa\">www.labcorp.com\/tests\/139900\/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-naa<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.labcorp.com\/assets-media\/2330\">www.labcorp.com\/assets-media\/2330<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4>Quest Diagnostics<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.questdiagnostics.com\/home\/Covid-19\">www.questdiagnostics.com\/home\/Covid-19<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.questdiagnostics.com\/otsa\/Documents\/covid-19\/SARSCoV-2_HCP_Fact_Sheet.pdf\">www.questdiagnostics.com\/otsa\/Documents\/covid-19\/SARSCoV-2_HCP_Fact_Sheet.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Phone: (866) MY-QUEST (866-697-8378)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>************************************<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You are receiving this email because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you are not a member and would like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n\n       <\/div>\n\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n\n      <ul>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div> \n\n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #421 March 10, 2020 2:17 pm Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10395","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10395"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11571,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10395\/revisions\/11571"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}