Mission: Provide laboratory support to public and private medical facilities through out 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. Click here for the Manual of Health Laboratory Tests.

Specimens sent to the Virology and Serology Laboratory

KDHE Virology and 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. Information can be found at: http://www.usps.com/

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.
Click here for the order form.

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