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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS DNA, QN REAL TIME PCR (CSF, WHOLE BLOOD)

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3544    Geisinger Epic ID:  121987

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

EDTA whole blood, CSF


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
Sterile specimen container
Specimen required: 

1 mL whole blood or CSF (minimum 0.3 mL)



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Do not freeze whole blood.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated


Specimen stability: 

Whole blood: Room temperature: 48 hours. Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: Unacceptable. 
All other specimens: Room temperature: 48 hours. Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: 30 days.


Rejection criteria: 

Heparin whole blood, frozen whole blood.



TEST DETAILS
CPT code(s):  87799
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 19493, VZPCR


Clinical significance: 

Varicella-Zoster Virus DNA, Quantitative Real-Time PCR [19493X] - Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family that causes chickenpox as a primary infection and can reactivate later in life as herpes zoster or shingles. VZV infection in immunocompromised individuals often leads to a progressive disease state involving multiple organs. The detection of Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) DNA is based upon the real-time amplification and detection of specific VZV genomic DNA sequences by PCR from total DNA extracted from the specimen. The quantitative range of this assay is 500-2,000,000 copies/mL.


Review Date:  12/17/2024

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