At a glance
- Report confirmed and probable cases of spotted fever rickettsioses through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.
- State health departments may submit samples to CDC for confirmatory testing.
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) for questions regarding RMSF and other rickettsial diseases.
Contact information
The general public and healthcare providers should first call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) for questions regarding RMSF and other rickettsial diseases. Your call will be appropriately forwarded if a consultation with a CDC scientist specializing in rickettsial diseases is advised.
Surveillance case definition
Spotted fever rickettsioses (SFR) are nationally notifiable conditions. Report cases to your state or local health department according to local laws.
All SFR cases, including those of RMSF, are reported together in a category called SFR. Most routine laboratory tests cannot distinguish between RMSF and rickettsial diseases. These diseases are caused by other, antigenically similar spotted fever group Rickettsia species such as R. parkeri, R. akari, and Rickettsia 364D.
Case report form
Report confirmed and probable cases of SFR through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. States are also encouraged to submit additional information using the Tickborne rickettsial disease case report form (CRF).
This form gathers key information not always reported to the CDC, including diagnosis details, hospitalization, and mortality information. If a different state-specific form is already used to collect this information, this can be submitted to CDC in lieu of a CRF.
To submit forms for SFR, email it to rzbepidiag@cdc.gov or fax it to 1-404-471-2737.
Submitting specimens to CDC for testing
Who may submit specimens to CDC
State health departments can send samples to CDC for confirmation testing.
Use commercial or state labs for routine testing; spotted fever group-level testing suffices for disease reporting. Commercial tests are available for diagnosing SFR infections; however, most do not provide species specificity.
Continue reading more information about who can submit specimens to CDC.
State health departments
Specimens may be submitted to CDC for testing of rickettsial diseases, including RMSF. For sample submission, please see instructions on the CDC Test Directory.
US health departments
US healthcare providers should submit specimens through their health department for testing.
Do not send specimens directly to CDC. CDC policy requires that specimens be submitted through, or with the approval of, the provider's state health department.
Please contact your state health department to assist you with specimen submission and reporting of an infected patient. Final reports of test results are returned to the state public health laboratory who is responsible for providing these reports to the primary submitter.
Please call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) for general questions about RMSF or other rickettsial diseases. Public health officials or healthcare providers requiring an epidemiologic or clinical consultation will be forwarded appropriately to the epidemiologist on call. If you have questions about reporting a suspect case, please first consult your state health department.
Non-US healthcare providers
Non-US healthcare providers should consult CDC prior to submitting specimens for testing. For general questions about RMSF or other rickettsial diseases, please call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or (888-232-6348). For specimen requirements and submission instructions, please see CDC Test Directory.