Microbiology Testing Services

Huntington Beach, California, April 10, 2025

Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency also warns that one can get norovirus illness numerous times in their life because there are many different types of the virus.

In the Golden State, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments (LHDs) track outbreaks of norovirus. However, healthcare providers are not required to report individual cases of norovirus to their LHDs, but they are required to report outbreaks.

Norovirus is very contagious and spreads easily and quickly in different ways, cautions the CDC. People can get norovirus by accidentally getting tiny particles of feces or vomit in their mouth from a person infected with it. The agency shares the following ways someone can get norovirus:

• Having direct contact with someone with norovirus, such as by caring for them, sharing food or eating utensils with them, or eating food handled by them.
• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.
• Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting unwashed fingers in one’s mouth.

“We are all susceptible to getting infected and sick with norovirus,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Fortunately, there are ways to test environmental samples for it. At LA Testing, our network of infection control testing laboratories is able to test for human norovirus by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) through surface swabs, and from water and wastewater samples. This form of testing can help to assess the effectiveness of infection control efforts or to identify the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred.”

LA Testing also recently sponsored an educational video about norovirus and identifying exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/jHFBXqtlHtU 

To learn more about this or other infection control, environmental, and industrial hygiene testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794.

 

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.