For Public Health Officials

• Managing Laboratory Exposures [PDF – 1 page]
• Tularemia Case Report Form [PDF – 2 pages]
• Surveillance Case Definition

Notes regarding interpretation of tularemia serologic test results for public health purposes:

• Positive serologic tests should be interpreted in the context of a compatible clinical illness and exposure. False positive results by serologic testing can occur for many diseases, including tularemia. Francisella tularensis serologic tests can cross-react with antibodies to some other bacteria, including Brucella.
• Serologic testing for F. tularensis is often performed at commercial laboratories. At some commercial laboratories, serologic testing includes reflex testing to improve overall specificity. Check with the reporting laboratory to determine if reflex testing is performed or to obtain reflex testing results.

For more information on laboratory diagnosis, see the For Clinicians page.

For emergency assistance after hours, please contact the CDC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 770-488-7100.