Bilodeau said that the names and contact information for others who may have been in close contact with the patient were obtained. The patient left the clinic about 8:30 p.m. after being kept in isolation since the early afternoon.

Virginia Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine confirmed that the state had activated its process for assessing a patient for potential symptoms of Ebola, but she cautioned against drawing any conclusions about the outcome.

The process involves the health provider and health officials at the state and local levels, as well as the federal Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Consolidated Laboratories. The Virginia Department of Health and the CDC must approve of testing for Ebola if a person meets the criteria.

“The process of assessing the situation has been activated,” the commissioner said.

Levine said the criteria are “whether a person is considered a high-risk exposure and also has symptoms that are consistent with the disease,” but she would not comment on the details of the case at CrossOver. Two people have been tested previously for the disease in Virginia; in both cases, the results were negative.