Lesions for VZV/HSV Antigen Stain and Viral Culture

LTD-Specimen Collection: Lesion for VZV/HSV Antigen Stain and Viral Culture

Policy Tech: Version 2

Equipment: Glass slide (Obtain from Virology lab ext. 38756)
                    Cardboard slide envelope (Obtain from Virology lab)
                    M4 (Viral transport medium)
                    Two flocked swabs

1. For direct antigen stain:

a. Vigorously scrape the cells from the base of the lesion with one flocked swab
and apply material to wells on glass slide.
b. Place the slide into a cardboard slide envelope.

2. For viral culture:

a. Vigorously scrape the cells from the base of the lesion with second flocked
swab and break off swab into M4 (Viral transport medium –VTM)
b. Place VTM on ice.

Send both specimens immediately to the laboratory.

NOTE: Direct antigen stain performed 0800-1430 only