Dear Public Health Ontario’s (PHO’s) laboratory clients:
Due to the increase in measles cases in Ontario, and Canada, and the potential increase in specimens being submitted to PHO’s laboratory, we would like to remind you not to submit specimens for measles testing with expired collection kits.
PHO’s laboratory has not validated expired media for measles PCR testing. Specimens submitted with expired collection kits could lead to false-positive or false–negative results, which could impact patient management and public health interventions. Therefore, specimens submitted in an expired collection kit will be rejected for testing. The collection kit media extension by Ontario Health only applies to collection of specimens for COVID-19.
Additional information about measles testing can be found on PHO’s Measles – Diagnostic – PCR, and Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies webpages, or by calling PHO’s Laboratory Customer Service Centre at 1-877-604-4567 (toll free) or 416-235-6556, or by email at CustomerServiceCentre@oahpp.ca.
Thank you,
PHO’s Laboratory Customer Service Centre
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