Home
HelpTest ID STLPC St. Louis Encephalitis Antibody Panel, IgG and IgM, Spinal Fluid
Ordering Guidance
This assay detects only St. Louis virus. For a complete arbovirus panel, order ABOPC / Arbovirus Antibody Panel, IgG and IgM, Spinal Fluid.
New York State Clients: This test is not available for specimens originating in New York.
Specimen Required
Container/Tube: Sterile vial
Preferred: Vial number 1
Acceptable: Any vial
Specimen Volume: 0.8 mL
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.
Useful For
Aiding the diagnosis of St. Louis encephalitis using spinal fluid specimens
Testing Algorithm
For more information see Mosquito-borne Disease Laboratory Testing .
Special Instructions
Method Name
Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)
Reporting Name
St. Louis Enceph Ab Panel, CSFSpecimen Type
CSFSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.7 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| CSF | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days |
| Frozen | 14 days |
Clinical Information
Since 1933, outbreaks of St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) have involved the western United States, Texas, the Ohio-Mississippi Valley, and Florida. The vector of transmission is the mosquito. Peak incidence occurs in summer and early autumn. Disease onset is characterized by generalized malaise, fever, chills, headache, drowsiness, nausea, and sore throat or cough followed in 1 to 4 days by meningeal and neurologic signs. The severity of illness increases with advancing age; persons over 60 years have the highest frequency of encephalitis. Symptoms of irritability, sleeplessness, depression, memory loss, and headaches can last up to 3 years.
Infections with arboviruses, including SLE, 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. SLE tends to produce the most severe clinical infections in older persons.
Reference Values
IgG: <1:1
IgM: <1:1
Reference values apply to all ages.
Cautions
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.
Since cross-reactivity with dengue fever virus does occur with St. Louis encephalitis antigens, and, therefore, cannot be differentiated further, the specific virus responsible for positive results may be deduced by the travel history of the patient, along with available medical and epidemiological data, unless the virus can be isolated.
Day(s) Performed
May through October: Monday through Friday
November through April: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Report Available
Same day/1 day to 4 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
86653 x 2