Virology / Serology

Mission

Provide laboratory support to public and private medical facilities throughout the state and to units of Kansas government for the detection and identification of infectious bacterial, parasitic, ricketsial, and viral diseases of public health interest. These services assist in the appropriate and timely medical treatment of Kansas residents and provide the state public health programs with disease incidence information to assist in their prevention and intervention efforts to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases within Kansas.

Analytical services provided by Virology and Serology include a nucleic acid amplified test (NAAT) for the dual detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea in urogential specimens Chlamydia detection by culture is also provided for medical-legal specimens. Serology assays for detection of vaccine preventable viral infections, select rickettsial diseases, new and chronic syphilis cases, and hepatitis infections due to hepatitis A, B, and C viruses in select risk populations. Viral cultures are provided to all medical facilities in the state, while selective sentinel influenza testing is also provided. Assays utilizing polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) methods are being developed with immediate emphasis on providing effective assays for calici-like viral detection in food-borne outbreaks and for B. pertussis detection. View the Laboratory Quick Reference Guide.

Specimens Sent to the Virology & Serology Laboratory

KDHE Virology & Serology

  • Specimens are accepted from any health care provider or local health department free of charge.
  • Packaging and shipment of specimens should conform to the United States Postal Regulations for shipment of clinical and hazardous material. See the KDHE Packaging and Shipping page.

Specimens can be submitted to the laboratory by using collection kits provided by KHEL or by commercially available collection kits. Specimen kits for blood or serum can be ordered by mail or faxing an order form to the laboratory. Viral culture kits are available to local health departments and selected sentinel sites.

Cultures for identification or confirmation should be sent in appropriate cell culture tubes with the mailing container indicating that it contains an infectious agent.

Specimen Guidelines

For all human specimens submitted for virology testing, see the Virology Serology Specimen Submission Guidelines (PDF) for specific collection, rejection, and transport guidelines.

Change Request Authorization Form

Please use the Change Request Authorization Form (PDF) for all demographic corrections, test additions, or other laboratory report modifications. The form must be signed, dated, and faxed to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any final changes will be made on all preliminary or final laboratory reports.

Laboratory Report Delivery Form

Please use the Laboratory Report Delivery Form (PDF) to update or add report recipient information for laboratory report delivery. The form must be signed, dated, and faxed to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any changes will be made to the current laboratory report delivery method.

Report Request Form

Please use the Report Request Form (PDF) to request additional copies of laboratory reports. One form is required for each patient. The form must be signed, dated, and faxed to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any changes will be made to the current laboratory report delivery method.

Additional Report Information