Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog
WEST NILE VIRUS ANTIBODIES (IGG, IGM), CSF
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB5244 Geisinger Epic ID: 207317CSF
2 mL CSF, minimum 0.7 mL
Collect in sterile container
Do not centrifuge. Aliquot and deliver to Referred Testing
Refrigerated
Room temperature: 4 days. Refrigerated: 7 days. Frozen: 30 days.
Gross hemolysis • Grossly icteric
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.
West Nile Virus Ab (IgG), CSF; West Nile Virus Ab (IgM), CSF
Quest Test Code 36597; WNVCSF
West Nile Virus Antibodies (IgG, IgM), CSF - 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.