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Test Code M208 Enterovirus RNA Detection by Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR)

Methodology

Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
 

Performing Laboratory

Barnes-Jewish Hospital Laboratory-Microbiology

Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

Dermal (lesion, vesicle): 1 swab in viral transport medium

 

Fluids [bile, pericardial, peritoneal dialysis (PDF), peritoneal, pleural, synovial]: ≥1 mL in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container.

 

Plasma or whole blood: 1 lavender-top (EDTA) tube

 

Stool: > 0.5 mL liquid or > 0.5 mg of soft in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container

 

 

Collection Procedure:

Dermal (Lesion, Vesicle)

1. Obtain Viral Transport Medium Collection Kit.
2. Collect specimen using plastic shaft Dacron swab.
3. Place swab in vial, break or cut off shaft of swab, discard shaft, tightly cap tube.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

5. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimen. Specimen cannot be frozen

Note: Specimen source is required

 

Plasma or Whole Blood

1. Draw blood into tube. Avoid hemolysis.
2. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Specimen cannot be frozen.
Note: 1.Specimen source is required          

          2. Whole blood is required for testing. (Plasma or serum is not acceptable)

 

 Fluids [bile, pericardial, peritoneal dialysis (PDF), peritoneal, pleural, synovial

1. Aseptically collect ≥1 mL of fluid.
2. Place in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

4. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimen.

 Note: 1. Specimen source is required.

            

Stool:

1. Aseptically collect > 0.5 mL liquid or > 0.5 mg of soft specimen.
2. Place in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

4. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimen. 
 Note: Specimen source is required.

Specimen Transport Temperature

Dermal (Lesion, Vesicle)-Ambient/Refrigerate OK/Frozen NO

Bile, Pericardial Fluid, Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid (PDF),  Peritoneal Fluid, Pleural Fluid, Stool, Synovial Fluid -Ambient/Refrigerate OK

Plasma, Whole Blood-Ambient/Refrigerate NO/Frozen NO

 

 

 

Reference Values

Negative

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Turnaround Time:

STAT: not available

Routine: final report available within 24 hours

Test Classification and CPT Coding

Test Classification:
This test is performed for plasma, whole blood, and dermal swabs using the Cepheid GeneXpert Dx System EV assay. The performance characteristics for specimens other than CSF has not been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) though the assay has been validated and determined acceptable for use by the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Virology Laboratory.
All other specimen types are tested using a laboratory developed test performed on the Focus Integrated Cycler.  This assay has not been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) though its performance characteristics have been validated and determined acceptable for use by the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Virology Laboratory.
 

CPT Code:

87498

Additional Information

For BJH Laboratory Use Only

Minimum Volume:

Dermal (Lesion, Vesicle): 1 swab in viral transport medium

Fluids [bile, pericardial, peritoneal dialysis (PDF), peritoneal, pleural, synovial]: 0.4 mL

Plasma or whole blood: 1 mL

Stool: 0.5 mL liquid or 0.5 mg of soft in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile

 

 

Laboratory Processing Instructions
BJH Microbiology will forward to the performing laboratory.