Specimen Collection and Confirmation of Norovirus Outbreaks

Abstract

We evaluated data from gastroenteritis outbreaks in Oregon to assess sensitivity of stool testing for norovirus and determine number of specimens needed to confirm norovirus as the cause. Norovirus can be readily confirmed if 3–6 specimens are collected any time <7 days after onset of diarrhea and for almost that long after symptoms resolve.

Keywords

• Norovirus
• outbreaks
• stool specimens
• diarrhea
• viruses
• dispatch