Ebola Virus Testing

Submitting Samples for Ebola Virus Testing

The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) accept only specimens from facilities caring for individuals who may be infected with Ebola Zaire. OSPHL does not test for Ebola Sudan. 

Submitters must work with public health authorities to complete the required forms and ship to the appropriate laboratories.

To obtain comprehensive information from the CDC, please visit the CDC's Guidance for Collection, Transport, and Submission of Specimens for Ebola Virus Testing webpage.

Please follow these steps:

1. Report suspect cases to the local health department immediately.
   If you are unable to reach your local public health authority, call 971-673-1111 to reach the state epidemiologist on call.
• Consultation with public health authorities, which may include CDC, is required.
  
2. Collect, prepare, and store specimen(s) according to the instructions provided during the consultation with public health authorities.
   
• If instructed to send specimens to OSPHL, follow instructions provided on the OSPHL Ebola Zaire Virus PCR Test Menu page.
  
3. Complete the test request forms discussed during public health consultation. Include the forms with your specimen shipment.

Responsibility for properly packaging specimens for transport lies with the organization packaging the specimen for transport.

The CDC has provided a fact sheet detailing Guidance for Collection, Transport and Submission of Specimens for Ebola Virus Testing in the United States (pdf)

Additional resources

• For disease reporting requirements, Oregon investigative guidelines, and additional links to the CDC, visit the Public Health Division's Ebola Virus Disease webpage.
• To obtain comprehensive information from the CDC, visit the CDC's Guidance for Collection, Transport, and Submission of Specimens for Ebola Virus Testing.
• The US Department of Transportation has provided guidance for Managing Solid Waste Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance (pdf).