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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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ENTEROVIRUS/PARECHOVIRUS RNA, QUALITATIVE REAL-TIME PCR

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB1306    Geisinger Epic ID:  53149

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

CSF(preferred) or stool, throat or rectal swab, plasma or serum


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
Sterile specimen container
Viral/Chlamydia transport (M4 Transport)
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
Universal Transport Medium (UTM)/flocked swab
3 mL lavender-top (K2 EDTA) tube
3.5 mL gold-top (serum separator) tube
Specimen required: 

0.7 mL CSF; minimum 0.3 mL, OR throat swab or rectal swab submitted in V-C-M, UTM, OR M4 Multiuse Viral Transport. OR 0.7 mL (minimum 0.3 mL) serum or plasma, OR 1 gram (minimum 0.5 grams) of stool in sterile leak-proof container.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Serum and plasma: Centrifuge and aliquot.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (cold packs)


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 48 hours. Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: 30 days.


Rejection criteria: 

Specimens containing heparin or calcium alginate swabs.



TEST DETAILS
CPT code(s):  87498, 87798
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: 

Enterovirus RNA, QL PCR and Parechovirus RNA, QL PCRr


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

Quest test code 70189, EV/Pare PCR


Clinical significance: 

This broad-spectrum assay detects the genomic RNA of members of the Enterovirus genus (including enteroviruses, echoviruses, coxsackieviruses and polioviruses) as well as the genomic RNA of members of the Parechovirus genus. The use of this assay allows for rapid patient testing as an aid in the diagnosis of viral meningitis or sepsis-like syndromes.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Randin Nelson MD
Review Date:  04/20/2026

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