Test ID: EEPC
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Antibody Panel, IgG and IgM, Spinal Fluid
Secondary ID
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Aiding the diagnosis of Eastern equine encephalitis
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
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis)
Encephalitis Antibodies
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
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: Sterile vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Additional Information: This test is not available for specimens originating in New York.
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.
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| 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 Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| CSF | Refrigerated (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, and is more abrupt and more severe than with other arboviruses, with children being more susceptible to severe disease. Fatality rates are approximately 70%.
Infections with arboviruses can occur at any age. The age distribution depends on the degree of exposure to the particular transmitting arthropod, relating to age, sex, and occupational, vocational, and recreational habits of the individuals. Once humans have been infected, the severity of the host response may be influenced by age.
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
Reference values apply to all ages.
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Detection of organism-specific antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may suggest central nervous system infection. However, these results are unable to distinguish between intrathecal antibodies and serum antibodies introduced into the CSF at the time of lumbar puncture or from a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier. The results should be interpreted with other laboratory and clinical data prior to a diagnosis of central nervous system infection.
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.
False-positive results may be caused by breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, or by the introduction of blood into the cerebrospinal fluid at collection.
Eastern equine encephalitis viruses show some cross-reactivity; however, antibody response to the infection virus is typically at least 8-fold higher.
Clinical Reference
Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Gonzalez-Scarano F, Nathanson N: Bunyaviruses. In Fields Virology. Volume 1. 2nd edition. Edited by BM Fields, DM Knipe. New York, Raven Press, 1990, pp 1195-1228
2. Donat JF, 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, EF 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
Dilutions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are prepared and allowed to react with substrate cells infected with the appropriate arbovirus. If antibodies to this virus are present in the CSF 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;429-443)
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.
Maximum Laboratory Time
Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
The location of the laboratory that performs the test
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.
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 ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 26369 | East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG, CSF | 10897-7 |
| 26370 | East Equine Enceph Ab, IgM, CSF | 10899-3 |


