Enterovirus PCR - sterile body fluid specimen -e.g., pericardial fluid, pleural fluid
- LIS Mnemonic: ENTPCR
Collect
Sterile body fluid (e.g., pericardial fluid, pleural fluid)
Volume Required
1 ml of sterile body fluid
Minimum Required
0.5 ml of sterile body fluid
Transport
Keep specimen at 4C
Processing
If an extended delay in transport of specimens is anticipated, rapidly freeze the specimens to at least -60°C and transport to the laboratory on dry ice. Depending on the specimen type (e.g., blood for plasma or serum), some processing of specimen material may be necessary before specimens can be frozen and shipped. Please consult the laboratory if necessary.
Days Performed
Daily
Reported
Same day
Reflex Testing
N/A
CPT
87798
Methodology
Amplification and detection of enterovirus RNA 5'-untranslated region using TaqMan real-time PCR technology. This test is performed pursuant to an agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
Interpretation
If positive, results are reported as enterovirus RNA detected.
Reference Values
Negative or no enterovirus RNA detected
Remarks
Recovery of enteroviruses may be enhanced by collecting specimens from multiple different body sites. These may include CSF, urine, blood (serum or plasma), respiratory, stool, tissue (e.g., liver, myocardium), and sterile body fluids (e.g., pericardial fluid, pleural fluid). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the specimen of choice for detecting enteroviruses in patients with aseptic meningitis or other central nervous system (CNS) diseases. It is also recommended that urine and serum specimens be sent on all patients with CNS disease to increase the likelihood of finding an enterovirus. A positive result from any one of these specimens is diagnostic for enteroviral disease. Both urine and serum should be sent on neonates and other children that present with sepsis or acute nonfocal febrile illness. Please Note: positive results from respiratory and stool specimens do not always correlate with disease because of prolonged viral shedding. Positive results from these specimens should be interpreted accordingly. Please call the Clinical Virology Laboratory at extension 42050 for more information on requirements for specimen collection and handling.
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