06/24/2022: Lab Advisory: Culture-Based Testing Guidance for Mpox Virus

Audience: Clinical Laboratory Professionals

Level: Laboratory Advisory

Laboratory personnel should only perform culture-based testing for mpox virus if they have validated and appropriately approved protocols, BSL-3 containment facilities, and smallpox vaccinated staff as outlined on the Laboratory Procedures for Mpox Virus page.

CDC recommends that smallpox vaccinated laboratory staff who perform culture-based testing of lesion specimen material from a suspect monkeypox case for diagnostic purposes other than mpox virus (e.g., HSV or VSV) use BSL-2 facilities with BSL-3 practices. CDC recommends that unvaccinated staff use BSL-3 containment when performing these procedures.

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Online resources:

• Mpox Information for Laboratory Personnel
• U.S. Mpox 2022: Situation Summary
• Real-time PCR assays for the specific detection of mpox virus West African and Congo Basin strain DNA
• Detection of mpox virus with real-time PCR assays

Questions?

• If you are a clinical or public health laboratory professional, contact LOCS.
• For media inquiries, contact the CDC Newsroom.
• For all other questions, contact CDC-INFO.

Thank you,

The Laboratory Outreach Communication System

Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) | Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS)

Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

LOCS@cdc.gov

www.cdc.gov/locs