Meningitis/Encephalitis Infection Array (Nationwide Children's)

Important Note

Cerner Order Name: Send out Other

Order Comment: MEID to Nationwide

This test should only be ordered by Pediatric Hospitalists on hospital-based pediatric patients. Must also order a CSF Culture. All other requests, see Meningitis/Encephalitis Pathogen Panel, PCR, Spinal Fluid

Specimen Type	Type of Container	Volume of Specimen	Status
CSF	CSF tube 2	1.5 mL	Preferred

Testing is performed on lumbar puncture collections only.
CSF collected via shunt or other indwelling device will be rejected.
A CSF culture (Bacterial) is required with each order, if not already obtained.
Samples with insufficient volume for both the Meningitis/Encephalitis Infection Array and CSF culture will have the Meningitis/Encephalitis Infection Array canceled and the CSF culture will be performed.

CSF: Room temperature 24 hour(s)
CSF: Refrigerated 7 day(s)
CSF: Frozen indefinite day(s)

Centrifuged specimen, Diluted specimen, CSF not collected via lumbar puncture such as Shunt or ventricular fluid

Do not centrifuge
Nationwide Test Code: MEID
Ensure a CSF Culture is ordered, if not, notify submitting provider to order. Provide NCH reference lab with proof of culture ordered.
Outside institutions should submit CSF protein, glucose, cell count, differential, and gram stain results with requests for MEID testing. If such testing results do not accompany order request, ordering location will be contacted with request for associated testing results.
Call Nationwide Children's at 614-722-5477 to request a STAT courier.

Not Detected

4 hours; Results may be delayed pending Director Review

Multiplexed 2-stage nested nucleic acid amplification test with end-point detection

87483