Monkeypox Virus: What the Lab Needs to Know

Course overview

In May 2022, the Word Health Organization declared monkeypox virus MPXV a public health emergency of international concern. Prior to the 2022 global outbreak, monkeypox MPX was a relatively unknown viral illness associated with sporadic clusters in endemic countries and occasional travel-associated cases. In response to this emerging pathogen, clinical laboratories quickly responded by developing molecular assays for MPXV detection. However, any clinical assay is not without its limitations, and these must be taken into account to ensure appropriate reporting of results. In this lecture, we will start by exploring the basic virology of MPXV and exactly how it emerged on the global stage. The second half of this presentation is focused on the development and implementation of MPX assays. Focus is placed on studies examining how the testing process, including pre- and post-analytic factors, influence assay performance. The intended audience includes clinical laboratorians, technologists, and anyone with an interest of the role laboratories play in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Learning objectives: Describe basic virology and strain differences of monkeypox virus, Review the historical origins of monkeypox virus and the 2022 global outbreak, Summarize how lab testing processes, including the pre- and post-analytic phases, affect results for monkeypox diagnosis