Diagnostic Testing

Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus and other arboviral infections should be seriously considered in any individual, but especially those over age 50 or younger than age 15 years, who has onset of otherwise unexplained encephalitis, meningitis, myelitis or fever in the late summer or early fall. The local presence of arboviral enzootic activity should further raise the index of suspicion. Diagnostic testing of serum and cerebrospinal fluid for arboviral infection is available at no cost through the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. Maine CDC requests that all specimens for arboviral testing be submitted to the State lab in Augusta rather than commercial laboratories to ensure a quicker turnaround time and immediate access to test results for surveillance and response purposes.

Information on collecting and submitting specimens for testing can be found elsewhere on this website or by calling 1-800-821-5821.

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Diagnostic Testing

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