Testing

Microbiology

Biothreat Laboratory

The Biothreat Laboratory section examines clinical isolates, environmental samples, and food samples for the presence of highly dangerous organisms and biological toxins. Since these organisms and toxins may be found naturally, the laboratory is responsible for rapidly “ruling-out” the presence of these organisms and toxins from samples sent from sentinel laboratories throughout the state.

Enteric and Parasitology Laboratory

The Enteric and Parasitology Laboratory performs reference laboratory services to aid in the identification of enteric organisms submitted by laboratories throughout the state. This laboratory offers services to isolate, identify, and/or confirm Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Campylobacter sp., and E. coli O157:H7, among others, from clinical specimens. Complete serotyping of Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. is provided.  Approved clients may also receive complete examination of paired formalin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) preserved stool specimens for intestinal parasites.  Blood preparations for parasites are sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for examination.

Method Development Laboratory

The Method Development Laboratory is responsible for bringing new assays into the laboratory. IDOHL optimizes the tests, performs the validation, and writes up the required validation paperwork for CLIA. Method Development is also responsible for writing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for new assays and training pertinent staff in new assays. This section develops and implements methods for detection and subtyping of various pathogens.

Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory

State law requires clinical laboratories to submit isolates of Candida auris as well as carbapenemase producing organisms (CPO), including Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumanii.  Phenotypic testing is performed for the presence of carbapenemases for CPOs.  If carbapenemases are found to be present, further molecular characterization is performed to determine the mechanism of resistance.  Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is performed for CPOs.  Candida auris isolates are referred to the Wisconsin State Laboratory for Anti-Fungal Susceptibility Testing.  Vancomycin resistance testing is also performed for Staphylococcus aureus isolates that clinical laboratories have found to be intermediate or resistant.

Reference Microbiology Laboratory

The Reference Microbiology Laboratory offers identification of selected bacterial pathogens from human sources which are of public health importance. Only pure viable cultures of clinically significant bacterial isolates are accepted. These include those of public health interest as well as those that Indiana State law requires to be submitted: Neisseria meningitides, Haemophilus influenzae , and Streptococcus pneumoniae from invasive specimens from patients 5 years old or younger. Grouping/typing is provided when appropriate. This laboratory is not a general identification service for laboratories that provide human clinical specimen testing.

Serology Laboratory

The Serology Laboratory offers serological analyses for infections of public health importance, including HIV, hepatitis A, B, and C, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. It also tests for antibodies to infections associated with vaccine-preventable diseases and vector-borne pathogens such as measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella, West Nile virus, and arbovirus (WEE, EEE, SLE, CE).

Virology Laboratory

The Virology Laboratory provides testing to detect and identify viruses pathogenic to humans and potential public health concerns. Some viruses are isolated in culture, e.g., respiratory viruses, herpes viruses causing skin lesions, enteroviruses, and mumps and measles viruses. Detection of nucleic acids in infected specimens is used to identify infections caused by mumps, influenza virus, and to subtype influenza isolates.  

The Virology Laboratory also accepts reference viral isolates for confirmation and subtyping of viruses including influenza, enteroviruses, and adenoviruses. West Nile virus is detected from pools of mosquitoes for surveillance data.