Specimen Requirements
Title
Mpox (Orthropoxvirus) DNA, PCR
Specimen Requirement
Vigorously swab or brush the base of the lesion with a sterile dry polyester, rayon or Dacron swab. Place the swab into the M4 media transport tube so that the tip is in the fluid. Carefully break the swab at the scoreline and tightly close the sample.
If multiple lesions with differing appearances are present, consider submitting an additional M4 media transport tube for each lesion.
Methodology
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Stability
Refrigerated: 7 days, Frozen: 30 days
Reference Range
By Report*
Turnaround
3-4 days
Clinical Use
Vesicular specimens collected from persons infected with a non-variola Orthopoxvirus (such as vaccinia, monkeypox, or cowpox) are expected to produce a positive result with this assay. Although this assay does not differentiate vaccinia or monkeypox virus from cowpox, camelpox, ectomelia or gerbilpox virus, a positive result with this assay in the United States is most likely due to monkeypox virus or vaccinia virus; however, potential exposure to other Orthopoxviruses should be considered.
Test Code
MONKP