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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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BK VIRUS DNA, QUANTITATIVE REAL-TIME PCR, BLOOD

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3542    Geisinger Epic ID:  121985

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

EDTA whole blood, EDTA plasma, Serum


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

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



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Separate plasma from EDTA whole blood within 24 hours of collection. Centrifuge for 15 mins at 2000-3000g, room temperature. Using a sterile pipet, transfer 3-4 mL of plasma to one (1) labeled, sterile, aliquot tube. Each molecular test ordered for viral quantitation requires its own aliquot tube.


Transport temperature: 

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


Specimen stability: 

Plasma specimens may be stored at 2-8°C for up to 6 days, or frozen at -15°C to -80°C for up to 6 months (preferred). 
EDTA whole blood specimens can be stored at 2-25°C up to 24 hours prior to centrifugation.


Rejection criteria: 

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 2-8°C for up to 6 days and at -15°C to -80°C up to 6 months. Stability limits exceeded. Shared or comingled specimens will be rejected.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Negative IU/mL.


Additional information: 

Normal volume of specimen tested is 650 uL of plasma. When 650 uL of plasma is tested, the linear range of the assay is 22 IU/mL to 100,000,000 IU/mL. Positive results less than 22 IU/mL will be reported as:  BKV DNA detected but is not quantifiable: below the lower limit of quantification (LLoQ) of the assay. Interpret results with the context of other clinical data and should not be the sole basis for treatment decisions.


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 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Synonyms: 

BKV, BK Virus, BKVDNA, BKV Quantitation, BK Viral Load, BKV Quant, BK DNA Viral Load, Polyomavirus


Clinical significance: 

The BKV assay detects and quantifies BKV DNA, in human plasma and urine samples. Detection of BKV DNA indicates that the virus is replicating and therefore is evidence of active infection. BKV infection may cause severe disease in immunocompromised persons, including transplant patients. Kidney transplant patients are at higher risk for BKV associated complications compared to recipients of other transplant types, including polyoma virus nephropathy (PVN) and ureteral stenosis.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Yi Ding MD, PhD
Review Date:  04/09/2025

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