Lab Test Menu

Pass Through Request

Specimen Pass Through Form

Please review all CDC submission requirements, including proper patient identifiers before shipping specimens to PHL.

How to Order a Lab Test

Use our online system to order your lab test.

  • First time users can enroll through email using the Sign Up button below.
  • If you already enrolled, use the Order a Lab Test button below.

Use the menu below for:

  • Specimen collection and shipping instructions
  • Specimen submission forms
  • Pre-approval requirements
  • Testing methodologies and frequencies
  • Turnaround times and contact information

To ensure that specimens meet laboratory acceptance criteria, please review all appropriate content prior to specimen submission.


Name Sort descending Updated Required form Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions Pre-approval Requirement Procedure, if applicable Methodology Testing Frequency Turnaround Time (business days) Comments Contact Footnotes Notifiable Conditions Info
Rule Out Shigella species
Shigellosis, Test of cure, R/O Shigella species, Rule-Out Shigella
05/14/2024

R/O Shigella species

Positive tests must be shipped. No pre-approval necessary.

All specimens will be screened with selective plating. Suspicious isolates will have biochemical identification and serotyping performed.

Daily, on regular business days

7-14 days

Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Rule Out Yersinia enterocolitica
Yersiniosis, R/O Yersinia enterocolitica, Rule-Out Yersinia enterocolitica
01/15/2015

R/O Yersinia enterocolitica

Pre-approval required.

 

Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence.

 

LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

All specimens will be screened on selective media. Suspicious isolates will have identification and biotyping performed.

Daily, on regular business days

7-14 days

Submission from Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJ) and state Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) only. This test is for test of cure or Epi investigations only.

Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Salmonella confirmation
Salmonella identification, Salmonella serotyping
01/15/2015

Salmonella confirmation

Pre-approval not required.

All specimens with suspicious colonies growing on selective media will have serotyping performed. Biochemical speciation will be performed if necessary.

Daily, on regular business days

4-7 days

This test is for isolates only. Please see Enteric Pathogen Screen for stool culture.

Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Salmonella species (Environmental)
Salmonellosis, foodborne illness, foodborne outbreak
10/14/2022

Salmonella species (Environmental)

Pre-approval required.

Must be approved by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Isolation and confirmation methods based on the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM).

As needed upon request.

4-14 days

Testing performed only for outbreak investigations with CDE approval.

Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Shiga Toxigenic E. coli (STEC) Confirmation
EHEC (Enterohemorrhagic E. coli) confirmation, E. coli identification, E. coli O157 identification, verotoxin confirmation, STX confirmation, STEC confirmation
01/15/2015

Shiga Toxigenic E. coli (STEC) Confirmation

Pre-approval not required.

All specimens will have EIA-based shiga toxin test. Biochemical identification and serotyping will be performed on any shiga toxin positive isolates that grow on selective media.

Daily, on regular business days

4-7 days

This test is for isolates and positive MacConkey or GN broths only. Please see Enteric Pathogen Screen for stool culture.

Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (Environmental)
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (Environmental), STEC, EHEC, foodborne outbreak
10/14/2022

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (Environmental)

Pre-approval required.

Must be approved by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Real-time PCR screening method, isolation and confirmation based on the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM).

As needed upon request.

4-14 days

Testing performed only for outbreak investigations with DOH CDE approval.

Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Shigella confirmation
Shigella identification, Shigella serotyping
01/15/2015

Shigella confirmation

Pre-approval not required.

All specimens with suspicious colonies growing on selective media will have biochemical identification and serotyping performed.

Daily, on regular business days

4-7 days

This test is for isolates only. Please see Enteric Pathogen Screen for stool culture.

Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Shigella species (Environmental)
Shigellosis, foodborne illness, foodborne outbreak
10/14/2022

Shigella species (Environmental)

Pre-approval required.

Must be approved by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Isolation and confirmation methods based on the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM).

As needed upon request.

4-14 days

Testing performed only for outbreak investigations with CDE approval.

Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Staphylococcus aureus (Environmental)
Staphylococcal intoxication, foodborne illness, foodborne outbreak
10/14/2022

Staphylococcus aureus (Environmental)

Pre-approval required.

Must be approved by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Enumeration method based on the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM).

As needed upon request.

4-14 days

Testing performed only for outbreak investigations with CDE approval.

Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Syphilis, Clinical - Serum
Syphilis, RPR, TP-PA
08/23/2022

Syphilis, Clinical

Pre-approval not required.

Treponemal Specific Assays
CMIA (chemiluminescent Immunoassay): Detection of IgG and IgM antibodies by Abbott Alinity i.
TP-PA: (Treponema pallidum Particle Agglutination) Confirmation of IgG and IgM antibodies.

Non-Treponemal Specific Assay
RPR: (Rapid Plasma Reagin) Qualitative and quantitative detection of non-specific antibodies.

Weekdays (excluding state holidays).

CMIA and RPR test results are available 3 business days from specimen receipt.

TP-PA test results are available 5 business days from specimen receipt.

CMIA and RPR are performed on each specimen.

If the results are inconclusive or discrepant between the two tests, a confirmatory TP-PA is performed.

STI Lab (206) 418-5622

* For CSF specimen, RPR, and TP-PA are not performed. Testing on CSF is performed by VDRL. Please see Syphilis - VDRL.

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Syphilis, Reference - Serum
Syphilis, RPR, TP-PA
08/23/2022

Syphilis, Reference

Pre-approval not required.

Treponemal Specific Assays
CMIA (Chemiluminescent Immunoassay): Detection of IgM/IgG antibodies by Abbott Alinity i.
TP-PA: (Treponema pallidum Particle Agglutination) Confirmation of IgG and IgM antibodies..

Non-Treponemal Specific Assay
RPR: (Rapid Plasma Reagin) Qualitative and quantitative detection of non-specific antibodies.

Weekdays (excluding state holidays).

CMIA and RPR test results are available 3 business days from specimen receipt.
TP-PA test results are available 5 business days from specimen receipt.

Reference specimens that test positive/reactive for syphilis are submitted to WA PHL STI laboratory for confirmation.

STI Lab (206) 418-5622

* For CSF specimen, CMIA and RPR are not performed. Testing on CSF is performed by VDRL. Please see Syphilis - VDRL.

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Syphilis, VDRL - CSF
Syphilis, VDRL
11/17/2022

Syphilis, VDRL

Pre-approval not required.

VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory): Qualitative and quantitative detection of non-specific antibodies.

Once a week, usually Thursdays

5 business days

For CSF only VDRL testing is performed.

STI Lab (206) 418-5622

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB AFB Culture
AFB smear, Mycobacteria, TB culture, TB, AFB, TB acid-fast-bacilli, tuberculosis, consumption
10/01/2015

AFB, Culture

Specimens must be submitted through the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ). If shipping Stool specimens, prior arrangement must be made with WAPHL TB Lab.

AFB smear and AFB culture

Monday-Friday, excluding holidays

AFB smears 24 hours. Positive AFB culture results available within 21-28 days; Negative results within 8 weeks.

All diagnostic specimens requesting isolation of TB will have an AFB smear and culture performed. To request additional testing please go to orderable tests for TB NAAT and TB Sensitivities.

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB AFB ID
MOTT Identification, Mycobacterium Identification, Non-TB Identification, TB, AFB, TB acid-fast-bacilli, tuberculosis, consumption
11/19/2014

AFB, ID

Pre-approval not required.

DNA Sequencing

Weekly

14 days

Identification of AFB-positive isolates that are not MTB.

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB AFB Sensitivities, First Line Drugs
TB sensitivities, TB drug resistance, TB, AFB, TB acid-fast-bacilli, tuberculosis, consumption
11/12/2014

AFB Sensitivities, First Line Drugs

Clinical specimens must be submitted through the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ). MTB Sensitivities will be performed on the first TB isolate and will be repeated after 3 months of therapy if the cultures are still positive.

BACTEC MGIT First Line Sensitivities, (Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol and Pyrazinamide)

1-2 times per week

Diagnostic specimen 7-14 days after TB identification; Isolates 7-14 days after receipt.

Diagnostic specimens will have smear and culture performed. Isolates must be submitted as pure culture.

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB AFB Sensitivities, Second Line Drugs
TB sensitivities, TB drug resistance, TB, AFB, TB acid-fast-bacilli, tuberculosis, consumption
11/12/2014

AFB Sensitivities, Second Line Drugs

Pre-approval not required.

Agar proportion or disk diffusion

Once per week on as needed basis.

21-27 days after receipt or identification of TB culture.

May take longer if not pure isolate, or scant growth.

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB AFB Smear
TB Smear, TB, AFB, TB acid-fast-bacilli, tuberculosis, consumption
10/01/2015

AFB, Smear

Specimens must be submitted through the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ). If shipping Stool specimens, prior arrangement must be made with WAPHL TB Lab.

AFB smear and AFB culture

Monday-Friday, excluding holidays

AFB smears 24 hours.

All diagnostic specimens requesting isolation of TB will have an AFB smear and culture performed. To request additional testing please go to orderable tests for TB NAAT and TB Sensitivities.

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB GeneXpert
Mycobacteriology (TB)
07/25/2022

TB GeneXpert

Specimens must be submitted through the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) or Core/Reference Laboratories.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reactions (TR-PCR)

Monday-Friday, excluding holidays

24 hours from test

GeneXpert is performed on all first-time AFB smear positive patients. One test per patient, additional tests available with approval through TB program. GeneXpert cannot be used to monitor treatment. GeneXpert can only be performed on sputum or treated sputum specimens.

For diagnostic samples that have not been decontaminated/digested, please submit a completed Microbiology Requisition Form (Requisition Form Mycobacterium not required).

Mycobacteriology (TB) 206-418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB NAAT / M. avium complex, NAAT
TB NAAT, TB, NAAT, TB Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, Molecular test for TB, TB PCR, TB, PCR, tuberculosis, consumption
02/15/2018

TB NAAT

Specimens must be submitted through the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) or Core/Reference laboratories.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Tuesday and Thursday

24 hours from test.

NAAT is performed on all first-time AFB smear positive patients. Up to two (2) NAATs will be performed per patient. NAAT cannot be used to monitor treatment. NAAT can only be performed on respiratory specimens.

For diagnostic samples that have not been decontaminated/digested, please submit a completed Microbiology Requisition Form (Requisition Form - Mycobacterium not required)

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
TB, Stock
Stock Culture, TB Stock, tuberculosis, consumption
12/01/2014

TB, Stock

Pre-approval not required.

Freezing at ultra low temperatures for specimen preservation.

As needed

Not applicable

According to WAC 246-101-201, laboratories in the State of Washington must send one MTB isolate per patient to the WA PHL within 2 business days of identification.

Mycobacteriology (TB) (206) 418-5473

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Varicella zoster virus, PCR (VZV, Chickenpox)
Herpes zoster, shingles, varicella-zoster
06/30/2022

Varicella zoster virus (Chicken pox)

Pre-approval required.

 

Contact the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) 

Daily, on regular business days*

8 hours**

Bioterrorism (206) 418-5562

* Stat testing is available 24/7 for critical situations
** Results for confirmation have a an extended turnaround time (15 days)

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Vibrio species (Environmental)
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibriosis, foodborne illness, foodborne outbreak
10/14/2022

Vibrio species (Environmental)

Pre-approval required.

Must be approved by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Enumeration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus through an MPN based real-time PCR assay. Other species of Vibrio are tested using isolation and confirmation methods based on the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM).

As needed upon request.

3-14 days

Testing performed only for outbreak investigations with CDE approval.

Food Microbiology (206) 418-5442

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
Vibrio species Identification
Vibriosis, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae
01/22/2024

Vibrio species Identification

Pre-approval not required.

Isolates are identified using biochemicals and MALDI.

Daily, on regular business days

3-7 days

Enteric Bacteriology (206) 418-5456

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
West Nile Virus / St. Louis encephalitis
WN, WNV, St. Louis, SLE
04/15/2024

West Nile Virus / St. Louis Encephalitis, MIA

Pre-approval required.

Healthcare providers (HCP) and laboratories must obtain pre-approval by contacting the Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) of the patient's county of residence.

LHJ staff must then notify Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) 206-418-5500.

Microsphere Immunoassay (MIA)

As needed*

2-5 days**

Virology Lab (206) 418-5458

* Stat testing is provided with prior approval by Department of Health Communicable Disease Epidemiology (for results on next business day).
** Results for additional testing have an extended turnaround time.

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)
West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes
Mosquito, WNV, Vector-borne Diseases, Flavivirus, RNA virus, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Arbovirus, Arboviral
07/06/2022

Contact the Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease Program in Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) to schedule testing - zd@doh.wa.gov

Collection and Submission Instructions for West Nile Virus in Mosquitos Testing (PDF)

Protocol for Transporting, Packaging and Shipping Mosquitos (PDF)

WNV Resources: Forms and Video - How to set up an EVS trap

Pre-approval by the ZD/VBD Program in CDE required
zd@doh.wa.gov

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Variable

48 hours

ZD/VBD Program in Communicable Disease Epidemiology
(206) 418-5500 

WNV in the US: Guidelines for Surveillance, Prevention, and Control (CDC)(PDF)

Notifiable Conditions Overview
List of Notifiable Conditions (includes links to reporting forms, guidelines for public health investigations, and case definition)