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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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WEST NILE VIRUS ANTIBODIES (IGG,IGM), ELISA, SERUM

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB5216    Geisinger Epic ID:  198887

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum collected in SST or Red 


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
Specimen required: 

1mL serum, minimum 0.7 mL



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow to clot, centrifuge, and aliquot. 


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated 


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 4 days; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 30 days



TEST DETAILS
CPT code(s):  86788, 86789
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: 

West Nile Virus Ab (IgG)
West Nile Virus Ab (IgM)


Methodology: 
Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)
Synonyms: 

Quest test code: 36596, WNV, WNVAB


Clinical significance: 

West Nile Virus Antibodies (IgG,IgM), ELISA, Serum [36596X] - The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. Like other arboviruses (e.g., St. Louis Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, and Yellow Fever), its main route of transmission to humans is through mosquitoes (primarily culex species) that have acquired the virus from infected birds. A single elevated WNV result, including IgM that may persist for many months, could represent past infection with WNV or infection with another flavivirus including Dengue and St. Louis Encephalitis. Diagnosis of suspected WNV infection is confirmed by isolation of WNV or detection of WNV antigen or nucleic acid sequences in clinical samples or detection of WNV-specific IgM in blood or spinal fluid, confirmed with detection of WNV-specific neutralizing antibody in the same or a subsequent sample.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Randin Nelson MD
Review Date:  01/27/2026

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