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Lab Test Directory
| UWHC Lab Test Details | |
|---|---|
| Test Name | EBV Qualitative by PCR, BAL |
| Test Code(s) | HCEBVBAL |
| CPT Code(s) | 87798 |
| Methodology | Real-Time PCR |
| Clinical Information | Detect Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. |
| Days Performed | Mon-Fri. |
| In-Lab Turnaround Time | 2 - 3 days. |
| Stat In-Lab Turnaround Time | Not available stat. |
| Collection Requirements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Preparation | Testing is performed Monday-Friday in batched runs. Specimens received by the Molecular Diagnostic lab by 8:30am will be run same day. If received after 8:30am it will be held to following day. | ||
| Specimen | Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) | ||
| Collection Container |
| ||
| Collection Instructions | 10-50 mL of lavage specimen is recommended. | ||
| Collection Volume | 50 mL | ||
| Pediatric Collection Volume | 12 mL | ||
| Specimen Processing Requirements | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stability |
| ||||||
| Sample Analyzed | Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid | ||||||
| Testing Volume | 3 mL | ||||||
| Pediatric Testing Volume | 1.2 mL | ||||||
| Specimen Transport | Transport specimen to Laboratory immediately. Transport fluid on coolant pack. | ||||||
| Unacceptable Criteria | LIMIT: One specimen every 48 hours. | ||||||
| Interpretation | |
|---|---|
| Expected Results | Not detected
Detection of low levels of EBV in specimens containing leukocytes is not unexpected, due to the ubiquitous nature of EBV infection in the population. |
| Test Limitations | A "Not detected" result may be the result of PCR inhibitors, virus levels below the level of detection of this test, or virus diluted in a large sampling volume. Virus quantitation is not possible due to the nature of the specimen.
Inadequate specimen collection, processing and storage may invalidate test results. This test should not be used as the only criterion to form a clinical conclusion; instead, results should be correlated with other test results, patient symptoms and clinical presentation. |
| Additional Information | A "Detected" result in BAL specimens indicates the presence of EBV DNA. A result of "Not Detected" in BAL specimens does not rule out the presence of EBV DNA or the absence of infection.
False negative results may be due to the suppression of viral replication to levels below the detection threshold, insufficient specimen collection volumes, high dilution volumes, or to inhibitory substances that may be present in the specimen.
DNA sequence polymorphisms in EBV strains may results in underestimation of viral levels. The presence of variations in EBV DNA sequences are monitored in the real-time PCR assay. This assay does not genotype the virus, and consequently does not provide any information with regard to EBV drug resistance.
The performance characteristics of this test were validated by UWHC Clinical Laboratories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or cleared this test; however, FDA approval or clearance is currently not required for clinical use of this test. The results are not intended to be used as the sole means for clinical diagnosis or patient management decisions. The UWHC Clinical Laboratories is authorized under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform high-complexity testing. |
