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1. Who will be performing Zika lab testing?

CDC and eventually, CDPH VRDL will conduct Zika lab testing. Specimens will get picked up from QVMC by the courier for the Napa Solano Yolo Marin Public Health Lab (NYSMPHL), and these will be routed to CDPH and then to CDC. Please call NSYMPHL at 707-784-4410 when the specimen is ready. The courier is in Napa around 11 a.m. every day. Specimens should stay refrigerated until pickup.

2. What will be the expected turnaround time for results?

One to three weeks, currently around three weeks. Turnaround time will hopefully decrease slightly when the test becomes available at CDPH VRDL.

3. Will the results be sent directly to the ordering facility and the ordering provider?

CDC test results are only being returned to CDPH, that’s why it’s very important for the ordering facility and provider to fill out their information on the form completely, so the results can be forwarded to them.

4. Specimens should not be collected on Fridays?

Specimens should not be collected Fridays because CDPH and CDC are closed over the weekend. If a specimen is accidentally collected on Friday, it can stay refrigerated for pick up the following week. Specimens can be picked up on Friday mornings but won’t be shipped until Monday.

5. Any suggestions for how to handle a patient who comes for specimen collection, but does not have the ZV Disease Testing Request form in hand or completely filled out?

The ZV Disease Testing form needs to be filled out as completely as possible.

6. Does all the requested information in the ZV Disease Testing Request form have to be provided?

All requested information needs to be filled out or Public Health may not approve the testing. All the information in the one page form is distilled down from the four page form. CDC is being very strict about the forms, specimens with incomplete information are not being accepted for testing.