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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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ANAPLASMA BABESIA PCR PANEL

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB5168    Geisinger Epic ID:  192748

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

EDTA whole blood


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL pink-top K2 EDTA tube
Specimen required: 

0.7 mL EDTA whole blood; minimum 0.3 mL



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Send unspun collection to testing lab. Test is not available for add-ons.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (2-8°C).


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature (15 -30°C): 48 hours, Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days.


Rejection criteria: 

Specimens stored or transported at incorrect temperature. Frozen at (-20°C), stability limits excessed, improper collection tube used, insufficient volume, improperly labels/identified specimens.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Negative. No Anaplasma phagocytophilum detected by PCR (amplified probe.
Negative. No Babesia species detected by PCR (amplified probe).


Critical values/courtesy alerts: 
Positive. Anaplasma phagocytophilum detected by PCR (amplified probe).
Positive. Babesia species detected by PCR (amplified probe).
CPT code(s):  87468, 87469
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.

Test includes: 

Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia species.


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

Anaplasma, Babesia, Tick, Tick-borne, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis


Clinical significance: 

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected Ixodes species tick. The epidemiology of this infection in the United States is very much like that of Lyme disease and babesiosis, which all have the same tick vector. Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted zoonosis caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa in the genus Babesia. Babesia microti is responsible for the vast majority of the of human cases in the United States. The primer pair utilized in this assay demonstrates an affinity to the following stains: B. microti strain G1, B, microti strain Naushon, B. microti strain NAN-H5-2001, B. duncani strain WA1, B. divergens, Babesia sp. strain MO-1, and Babesia sp. strain EU-1.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Donna Wolk PhD, D(ABMM)
Julie Hirschhorn, PhD, HCLD(ABB)
Review Date:  10/15/2024

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