Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6) PCR (Qualitative) - blood specimen
- LIS Mnemonic: HHV6PCR
Collect
Lavendar (EDTA)
Volume Required
4-7 ml whole blood
Minimum Required
4 ml whole blood
Transport
Transport blood in a timely fashion (preferably within 8 hours of collection) at room temperature to the Clinical Virology Laboratory.
Stability
N/A
Processing
Whole blood in an EDTA-anticoagulated tube is the preferred specimen source. Thoroughly mix the blood by gently inverting the collection tube 6-12 times before sending to the laboratory. Other acceptable specimens include body fluids, tissue submitted in viral transport medium, bone marrow in EDTA, and CSF.
Unacceptable conditions
Clotted specimens
Days Performed
Daily
Reported
Same day
Reflex Testing
If qualitative HHV-6 DNA real-time PCR is positive from blood, a quantitative assay will be performed to measure the amount of HHV-6 DNA present.
CPT
87532
Methodology
Amplification and detection of HHV-6 DNA U65-U66 gene region using TaqMan real-time PCR technology. The test is performed pursuant to an agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
Interpretation
If positive, results are reported as human herpesvirus-6 DNA detected.
Reference Values
Negative or no human herpesvirus-6 DNA detected
Remarks
Clinical Utility: Human herpes virus type-6 (HHV-6) is the cause of roseola infantum, an illness characterized by an erythematous maculopapular rash with high fever in 20% of children. The disease is also called exanthum subitum and Sixth disease. Other illnesses include undifferentiated febrile illness without rash or localized signs, febrile seizures (common with roseola), infectious mononucleosis-like syndromes, hepatitis, and neurologic syndromes (e.g., encephalitis). Transplant recipients may have fever, hepatitis, leukopenia, delayed engraftment, neurologic disease, skin rashes, pneumonia, and bone marrow suppression. The virus may contribute to disease progression with HIV-1 and exacerbate disease with other viruses. The diagnosis of HHV-6 infection is increasingly being made by PCR, and HHV-6 DNA has been detected in specimens from solid-organ and bone marrow transplant recipients; children with roseola, acute febrile illnesses, encephalitis and febrile seizures, and other manifestations of primary infection; and AIDS patients. Quantitative PCR assays should be used in immunocompromised patients to associate infection with disease, predict and monitor disease progression, assess efficacy of antiviral therapy, and to facilitate our understanding of the pathogenesis of HHV-6. In these patients, viremia is considered to be the best predictor of disease, and quantitative measures of HHV-6 DNA in blood is useful for the continued surveillance and management of transplant patients.
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