Ebola laboratory tests
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Michael Maddaleni, B.S.; Guillermo Rodriguez Nava, M.D. [2]
Overview
Ebola infection is associated with nonspecific laboratory abnormalities including alterations in the white blood cell count, blood chemistry tests and liver function tests, all of which may contribute to a disruption in the clotting process and bleeding.
Indications for Laboratory Testing
CDC recommends testing for all persons with onset of fever within 21 days of having a high-risk exposure such as:
- Percutaneous or mucous membrane exposure or direct skin contact with body fluids of a person with a confirmed or suspected case of EVD without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE),
- Laboratory processing of body fluids of suspected or confirmed EVD cases without appropriate PPE or standard biosafety precautions, or
- Participation in funeral rites or other direct exposure to human remains in the geographic area where the outbreak is occurring without appropriate PPE.
For persons with a high-risk exposure but without a fever, testing is recommended only if there are other compatible clinical symptoms present and blood work findings are abnormal (i.e., thrombocytopenia <150,000 cells/µL and/or elevated transaminases).
Laboratory Findings
The table below displays the nonspecific laboratory abnormalities associated with Ebola infection, including:[1]
| Test | Findings |
|---|---|
| White blood cell count | Leucopenia Lymphopenia Neutrophilia |
| Blood smear | Left shift Atypical lymphocytes |
| Coagulation | Consumption of clotting factors Increased concentrations of fibrin degradation products |
| Liver function tests | Raised aspartate aminotransferase Raised alanine aminotransferase Extended prothrombin time Extended partial thromboplastin time |
| Proteins | Hyperproteinemia |
| Urinalysis | Proteinuria |
Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission
References
- ↑ Feldmann H, Geisbert TW (2011). "Ebola haemorrhagic fever". Lancet. 377 (9768): 849–62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60667-8. PMC 3406178. PMID 21084112.