Public Health & Environmental Laboratories

Smallpox virus is highly infectious. Manipulation of specimen material should be avoided, but if necessary, use Biosafety Level 3 practices.

Safety:

• If smallpox is suspected, notify your state public health laboratory immediately for evaluation and referral.
• Smallpox is a medical and public health emergency even when criminal activity is not suspected. Diagnosis is made by clinical findings and confirmed by advanced techniques in Level D facilities.
• Level A laboratories should not attempt to culture or perform any diagnostic assays on specimens suspected of containing smallpox virus.
• Responsibility of the Level A Laboratory is limited to advising medical staff on specimen selection and with packing, shipping and communication of specimens from suspected case.
• Specimen Collection and Transport Guidelines (pdf)
• Specimen Collection Chart (pdf)
• B-Safe Card (pdf)