[Last Modified: ]

Specimen Requirements
Serum/plasma is required for all parasitic disease immunodiagnostic tests.  A single sample is usually sufficient; acute and convalescent specimens are not necessary.  CSF and eye fluids (vitreous or aqueous) are acceptable for selected diseases (see below) and MUST be accompanied by a serum specimen.

Serum for all tests:
Adults – 3 ml serum/plasma separated from RBC’s before shipping.
Children – 0.5 ml serum/plasma separated from RBC’s before shipping.

CSF: 1.0 ml.  Acceptable only for cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, and schistosomiasis testing when CNS disease is suspected.

Eye fluids: 0.1 ml neat fluid (no washings).  Acceptable only for toxocariasis and toxoplasmosis.

For additional information on serology specimen requirements/shipping, call the Division of Parasitic Diseases Reference Immunodiagnostic Laboratory at 770-488-4431.