Respiratory Virus Surveillance
Laboratory-based surveillance for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens is coordinated by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), in collaboration with the Wisconsin Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This surveillance network utilizes a combination of laboratory testing data along with respiratory specimens submitted to the WSLH for additional surveillance testing and characterization. Specimen requests are modified as the level of influenza and other respiratory virus activity changes and as other circumstances require. These changes will be communicated in the bi-weekly “Laboratory Surveillance Report” which is posted at the WSLH website under the Surveillance tab.
Contributing elements of the laboratory-based surveillance for Wisconsin include rapid influenza testing sites (RIDT), PCR/molecular laboratories, enrolled sentinel surveillance sites and university health clinics. In addition to submission of specimens for surveillance testing, these sites provide weekly testing data including the number tested and number positive for respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens impacting community health.
The complete Laboratory-based surveillance plan for the 2023-24 season is available at the link below.
Laboratory Based Surveillance Plan for 2023-2024
Specimen Submission Instructions
Specimen requisition forms and supplies for collecting and shipping surveillance specimens are provided at NO COST and can be requested at 800-862-1088 or HMspecimenreceivingclinicalordersstaff@slh.wisc.edu.
Transport to the WSLH, and testing of surveillance specimens is available at NO COST when you send specimens using Purple Mountain Solutions (PH: 800-990-9668). Complete specimen submission and shipping instructions can be found at the link below.