From the common flu to the Zika virus, this unit receives nearly 400,000 specimens for testing each year. About half of that testing is for HIV and other STDs.
This laboratory has two unique sections:
- One that tests for vector-borne diseases like those carried by mosquitoes and ticks
- One that contains North Carolina’s sole rabies testing laboratory to protect people who had close contact with an animal that may be rabid
These laboratories provide data that aids many state and federal disease monitoring programs.
We are a World Health Organization collecting laboratory for common flu (influenza) surveillance. We submit information that helps guide flu vaccine production.
Learn more about our laboratories
The molecular virology laboratory was the first lab in North Carolina to test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The lab identified the first case of COVID-19 in our state.
We also test for common flu (influenza). We provide characterization beyond what is typically performed at clinical labs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) uses our influenza data to help guide its annual flu vaccine recommendations.
We perform routine testing for:
- Herpes simplex virus
- Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) such as varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, and measles
We plan to expand respiratory pathogen testing to improve surveillance for other diseases. This includes testing for the mumps virus.
The rabies testing unit keeps people safe by identifying rabies in animals with which they had close contact.
Rabies is almost 100% fatal. A person infected with the virus needs a biological treatment to survive.
The laboratory process begins with the whole head of an animal. We remove a small amount of tissue from the brain stem. We use fluorescent treatment under a microscope to identify if rabies is present.
This unit generates data on the animal species we test, the strain of the virus detected and where it was found.
Serology Laboratory:
This laboratory tests for:
- HIV, which is primarily an STD that attacks the body's immune system.
- Hepatitis, which affects the liver. There are several types of hepatitis, and some types are preventable by vaccine.
Due to a high volume of disease testing, we have automated testing for many of our tests. We use antigen or antibody and RNA detection.
Special Serology Laboratory:
This laboratory tests for:
- Arboviruses, which are often transmitted by mosquitoes. This includes the West Nile virus and emerging arboviruses such as Zika.
- Various rickettsial agents. This includes potentially deadly arthropod transmission causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever or typhus.