Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Public Health Laboratory
12750 Erickson Avenue
Downey, California 90242

Laboratory Director
J. Michael Janda, Ph.D, D(ABMM)

Phone: (562) 658-1330
Fax: (562) 401-5999

Monday - Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

The Public Health Laboratory offers comprehensive viral cultures as well as cultures for specific viruses. When a viral culture is requested, attempts will be made to isolate culturable viruses. Substrates for viral isolation include different cell lines. Not all cell lines will be included for all requests. Determining factors may include the time of year and patient history.

Test information/Specimen collection

PHL Code	Test information	Reference Range	Specimen Requirements
0109	Adenovirus culture	Negative	Appropriate specimen (see virology info)
0138	Chlamydia trachomatis culture	Negative	Use M4-RT transport medium. Refrigerate. Must be received within 24 hours.
0156	Cytomegalovirus (CMV) conventional culture and rapid culture	Negative	Appropriate specimen (see virology info)
0162	Enterovirus serotyping	By report	Submit enterovirus isolate
0195	Herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen detection, DFA	Negative	Swab or air dried 2 spot slide or 2 separate slides. Refrigerate (see virology info)
0196	Herpes simplex virus (HSV), non-lesion specimen source, conventional culture	Negative	Appropriate specimen (see virology info)
0197	Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Real time PCR	HSV DNA not detected	Appropriate specimen (see virology info)
	Herpes zoster virus - see tests 0278 & 0279
0236	Parainfluenza virus culture	Negative	Appropriate specimen (see virology info)
0239	Poliovirus antibody, neutralization, serum	By report	1 ml serum (minimum 0.5 mL)
0241	Rabies examination, biopsy	Negative	Properly collected biopsy specimen from brain, fresh animal head
0243	Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen detection, DFA	Negative	Properly collected nasopharyngeal specimen or slide. Refrigerate (see virology info)
0244	Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen detection, EIA	Negative	Swab, nasal aspirate. Do not dilute.
0254	Rotavirus antigen detection, EIA	Negative	1 gram stool or stick swab from diaper. Submit in sterile container; no preservatives.
0278	Varicella-zoster virus antigen detection, DFA	Negative	Slide or scrapings. Refrigerate
0279	Varicella-zoster virus culture	Negative	Appropriate clinical specimen (see virology info)
0280	Viral culture, comprehensive	Negative	Appropriate clinical specimen (see virology info)
0301	Viral load test, HIV-1 RNA PCR	Lower limit of quantification: 400 copies/mL; Maximum detection range: 750,000/mL	Specimen must be collected in K EDTA.Separate plasma from whole blood within 6 hours. Transfer plasma to sterile polypropylene tube. Store at 2-8 degrees C. Deliver to lab within 5 days. Minimum 1 mL.
	Viral load test, HIV-1 RNA Ultra Sensitive PCR	Lower limit of quantification: 50 copies/mL; Maximum detection range: 100,000/mL	Specimen must be collected in K EDTA.Separate plasma from whole blood within 6 hours. Transfer plasma to sterile polypropylene tube. Store at 2-8 degrees C. Deliver to lab within 5 days. Minimum 1 mL.