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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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HERPESVIRUS TYPE 6 DNA, QN REAL TIME PCR

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2458    Geisinger Epic ID:  43770

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Blood, CSF, or Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

1 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube or
1 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube or
1 mL serum or
1 mL CSF collected in a sterile lscrew cap tube or
1 mL frozen bronchoalveolar lavage collected in a sterile leak-proof container
Minimum volume 0.5ml


Special notes: 

This test is for CSF or BAL. Serum is acceptable but must be approved for send out by Technical Specialist



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Transport temperature: 

Whole blood, plasma, serum, CSF: Refrigerated (cold packs) Or frozen
Bronchoalveolar lavage: Frozen


Specimen stability: 

Whole blood, plasma, serum, CSF: Room temperature: 48 hours. Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: 30 days. 
Bronchoalveolar lavage: Room temperature: Unacceptable. Refrigerated: Unacceptable. Frozen: 30 days.


Rejection criteria: 

Samples in lithium or sodium heparin



TEST DETAILS
CPT code(s):  87533
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Methodology: 
Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Synonyms: 

Quest test code 19723, HV6PCR


Clinical significance: 

This test is used to determine the presence of HHV-6 DNA in patients' specimens. Organisms may be detected by PCR prior to detection by immunological methods. PCR provides more rapid results than other methods, including culture.


Review Date:  03/11/2025

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