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Test ID: EEEP
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Antibody, IgG and IgM, Serum

Secondary ID A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011

83155

NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Aiding in the diagnosis of Eastern equine encephalitis

Testing Algorithm Delineates situation(s) when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

 

Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name

East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG and IgM, S

Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Arbovirus Serology
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis)
Encephalitis Antibodies

Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing

Serum

Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.

Container/Tube: 

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.

0.15 mL

Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Hemolysis

Mild OK; Gross reject

Lipemia

Mild OK; Gross reject

Icterus

NA

Other

NA

Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.

Specimen TypeTemperatureTime
SerumRefrigerated (preferred)14 days
 Frozen 14 days

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is within the alphavirus group. It is a low prevalence cause of human disease in the eastern and Gulf Coast states. EEE is maintained by a cycle of mosquito/wild bird transmission, peaking in the summer and early fall, when man may become an adventitious host. The most common clinically apparent manifestation is a mild undifferentiated febrile illness, usually with headache. Central nervous system involvement is demonstrated in only a minority of infected individuals, it is more abrupt and more severe with EEE than other arboviruses, with children being more susceptible to severe disease. Fatality rates are approximately 70% for EEE.

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

IgG: <1:10

IgM: <1:10

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

In patients infected with this virus, IgG antibody is generally detectable within 1 to 3 weeks of onset, peaking within 1 to 2 months, and declining slowly thereafter.

 

IgM class antibody is also reliably detected within 1 to 3 weeks of onset, peaking and rapidly declining within 3 months.

 

Single serum specimen IgG >or =1:10 indicates exposure to the virus.

 

Results from a single serum specimen can differentiate early (acute) infection from past infection with immunity if IgM is positive (suggests acute infection).

 

A 4-fold or greater rise in IgG antibody titer in acute and convalescent sera indicate recent infection.

 

In the United States it is unusual for any patient to show positive reactions to more than 1 of the arboviral antigens, although Western equine encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis antigens will show a noticeable cross-reactivity.

 

Infections can occur at any age. The age distribution depends on the degree of exposure to the particular transmitting arthropod relating to age and sex, as well as the occupational, vocational, and recreational habits of the individuals. Once humans have been infected, the severity of the host response may be influenced by age. Infection among males is primarily due to work conditions and sports activity taking place where the vector is present.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

All results must be correlated with clinical history and other data available to the attending physician.

 

Specimens drawn within the first 2 weeks after onset are variably negative for IgG antibody and should not be used to exclude the diagnosis of arboviral disease. If arboviral infection is suspected, a second specimen should be drawn and tested 10 to 21 days later.

 

Since cross-reactivity with dengue fever virus does occur with St. Louis encephalitis antigen and, therefore, cannot be differentiated further. The specific virus responsible for such a titer may be deduced by the travel history of the patient, along with available medical and epidemiological data, unless the virus can be isolated.

 

Eastern equine encephalitis and Western equine encephalitis viruses show some cross-reactivity; however, antibody response to the infecting virus is typically at least 8-fold higher.

 

Usually, when an infection with an arbovirus is suspected, it is too late to isolate the virus or draw serum specimens to detect a rise of antibody titer.

Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Gonzalez-Scarano F, Nathanson N: Bunyaviruses. In Fields Virology. Vol 1. 2nd edition. Edited by BN Fields, DM Knipe. New York, Raven Press, 1990, pp 1195-1228

2. Donat JF, Hable-Rhodes KH, Groover RV, Smith TF: Etiology and outcome in 42 children with acute nonbacterial meningoencephalitis. Mayo Clin Proc 1980;55:156-160

3. Tsai TF: Arboviruses. In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 7th edition. Edited by PR Murray, EJ Baron, MA Pfaller, et al. Washington, DC, American Society for Microbiology, 1999, pp 1107-1124

4. Calisher CH: Medically important arboviruses of the United States and Canada. Clin Microbiol Rev 1994;7:89-116

Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Indirect immunofluorescence. Dilutions of test sera are prepared and allowed to react with substrate cells infected with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus. If IgG antibodies to this virus are present in the serum of the patient, an antigen-antibody complex will develop that can be detected by a fluorescein-labeled antibody directed to human globulin. (Tsai TF: Arboviruses. In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 7th edition. Edited by PR Murray, EJ Baron, MA Pfaller, et al. Washington, DC, ASM Press, 1999, pp 1107-1124; Beaty BJ, Casals J, Brown KL, et al: Indirect fluorescent-antibody technique for serological diagnosis of LaCrosse [California] virus infections. J Clin Microbiol 1982;15:429-434)

Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.

Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.

Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.

Same day/1 day

Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result

4 days

Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

2 weeks

Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.

This test has been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

86652 x 2

LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.

Result IDReporting NameLOINC Code
83354East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG, S29811-7
83355East Equine Enceph Ab, IgM, S23046-6