Enterovirus Isolation | KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Specimen Container	Varies for type of specimen sent.
Specimen Requirement	1 – 2 mL CSF in sterile bottle for neurological diseases Throat swab/nasopharyngeal aspirate within the first 3 – 4 days of onset for all clinical presentations Throat swab, nasopharyngeal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage for respiratory infections Pericardial fluid for pericarditis Vesicular fluid for vesicular eruptions Send samples (except CSF, stool, pericardial fluid & vesicular fluid) in Universal Transport Medium
Specimen Storage/Transport	Refrigerate samples until transport to laboratory. Do not freeze. Send samples on ice pack to laboratory.
Orderable as Urgent?	No
Turn Around Time	Positive preliminary report : 2 days – 3 weeks Final report with enterovirus typing results : 2 - 6 weeks Negative report : 3 weeks
Testing Laboratory Location	SGH
Laboratory	Virology
Contact Number	6394 1352
Day and Time Performed	Monday – Saturday
Orderable on CPOE?	Yes
Downtime Form	Virology & Serology Tests
Additional Information	Stool for all clinical presentations. Two stool samples within 48 hours of each other must be sent from all patients aged 15 years and below with a diagnosis of AFP (acute flaccid paralysis) for poliomyelitis surveillance.

Change History Notes

Last Updated - 22 Jul 2025