Lab Advisory: CDC Publishes Monkeypox Virus PCR Testing Procedure

On June 6, 2022, CDC published a Real-Time PCR test procedure to detect Monkeypox virus. This procedure is intended for international partners and any laboratories interested in pursuing a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT). This procedure includes sequence information for primer and probe development and cycling conditions. This assay is designed to specifically detect Monkeypox virus.

Public health laboratories have capacity for the current testing demand. Laboratories with specimens that are suspected to contain Monkeypox virus should contact their state or territorial public health department (contact list) as soon as possible. Please refer to the CDC Specimen Collection Guidelines for Monkeypox virus for more information.

Online resources:

• Monkeypox - Information for Laboratory Personnel
• U.S. Monkeypox 2022: Situation Summary
• Real-time PCR assays for the specific detection of monkeypox virus West African and Congo Basin strain DNA
• Detection of monkeypox virus with real-time PCR assays