Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

3-4 mL of plasma in one (1) aliquot tube; minimum 2.0 mL of plasma in aliquot. NO SHARED SPECIMENS.

This test is only used for DECEASED DONOR TESTING. The donor sample is ordered under the recipient's name and medical record number (MRN).

Separate plasma from whole blood within 24 hours of collection. Centrifuge for 10 minutes at 3000 rpm, room temperature. Using a sterile pipet, transfer 3-4 mL of plasma to one (1) labeled, sterile, aliquot tube. Each molecular test ordered requires its own aliquot tube (e.g., DHEPCR requires one 3-4 mL aliquot tube, and DHCGEN requires on 3-4 mL aliquot tube).

Plasma frozen, -20 to -80ºC (preferred). Plasma may also be transported at 2-8ºC. Transport EDTA whole blood at 2-8ºC.

Plasma specimens may be stored at 2-8ºC for up to 6 days, or frozen at -20 to -80ºC up to 12 weeks (preferred). EDTA whole blood specimens can be stored at 2-8ºC up to 24 hours prior to centrifugation.

Whole blood specimens must be collected in EDTA tubes. Specimens must be separated within 24 hours, or they will be rejected. Plasma must be stored at 2-8ºC for up to 6 days or at -20 to -80ºC up to 12 weeks. Stability limits exceeded. Shared or comingled specimens.

Negative IU/mL.

Linear range of the assay is 15 IU/mL to 100 million IU/mL. Positive results less than 15 IU/mL will be reported as: HCV RNA detected but not quantified. The calculated titer is below the lower limit of quantification (LLoQ) of the assay.

Quantitative HCV RNA

HCV RNA Quant Viral Load, HCV Viral Load, Quantitative Hepatitis C Viral Load, HCV PCR, Hepatitis C virus PCR, HCV RNA Quant, HCV RNA Quantitative, Hepatitis C virus RNA , DHEPCR, HEPCR

The transplant deceased donor hepatitis C RNA quantitative test offers a measure of active HCV RNA viremia in donor blood samples.