Viral Culture, Rapid, Lesion (Herpes Simplex Virus and Varicella-Zoster Virus)
| Viral Culture, Rapid, Lesion (Herpes Simplex Virus and Varicella-Zoster Virus) | | | |
| Number | | 186056 |
| CPT | | 87254; 87255 |
| Related Information | | Default Test Order for Ambiguous Orders Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Culture and Typing Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Culture Without Typing Viral Culture, General Virus, Direct Detection DFA, Herpes Simplex Virus Virus, Direct Detection DFA, Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) |
| Synonyms | | Herpes Simplex and Varicella Zoster ; HSV and VZ Culture ; Lesion Culture ; Viral Culture, Rapid, Varicella-Zoster ; Virus Isolation |
| Test Includes | | Cell culture by ELVIS® method; identification and typing of herpes simplex virus. Shell vials or equivalent multiwell plate culture with fluorescent antibody staining for varicella-zoster. CPT coding for microbiology and virology procedures often cannot be determined before the culture is performed. This culture is for the isolation of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster, other viral agents will not be routinely detected. If a virus other than the one specified for this virus-specific culture is recovered, identification will be made, and an additional charge will apply. The client will not be telephoned to approve this charge. Requests with only a written order and no test number indicated will be processed according to Default Test Order for Ambiguous Orders . |
| Special Instructions | | Submit one specimen per test requested. Specify the exact specimen source/origin (eg, genital lesion). Indicate a specific test number on the request form. Do not use transport device beyond the expiration date. |
| Specimen | | Vesicular fluid, ulcerated lesions, vesicular scrapings, pharyngeal and throat swabs, autopsy and biopsy material, vaginal swabs |
| Volume | | Swab in viral transport media, 0.5 g tissue in viral transport medium |
| Container | | Viral, Chlamydia, or Mycoplasma culture transport provided by LabCorp, or other appropriate transport medium; sterile screw-cap container |
| Collection | | Specimen is best collected within the first 3 days after appearance of lesion, but no longer than 7 days. Do not prepare the collection site with alcohol or iodophors. After collection, remove cap from the transport media tube and insert swab aseptically into transport tube and break swab shaft. Replace cap so that swab will not interfere with closure and allow tube to leak. Label tube with patient identification and transport to the laboratory at 4°C. |
| Storage Instructions | | Specimen should be kept at 4°C (refrigeration) and transported to the laboratory within 24 hours of collection. |
| Causes for Rejection | | Bacterial swab specimen; specimen received in grossly leaking transport container; dry specimen; specimen submitted in fixative or additive; specimen received in expired transport media or incorrect transport device; inappropriate specimen transport conditions; specimen received after prolonged delay in transport (usually more than 72 hours); specimen stored or transported at room temperature; wooden shaft swab in transport device; unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label |
| Methodology | | Enzyme-linked virus-inducible system (ELVIS®). ELVIS® HSV was developed using a transgenic baby hamster kidney-21 cell line. In this cell line, HSV infection causes the expression of a beta-galactosidase “reporter gene,” and it is the expression of this gene that can be used to monitor infection by HSV. Cultures positive by ELVIS® are confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. Shell vials or equivalent multiwell plate culture with fluorescent antibody staining is utilized for the recovery of varicella-zoster. |
| References | | Arvin AM and Prober CG, “Herpes Simplex Viruses,” Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 5th ed, Balows A, Hausler WJ, et al, eds, Washington, DC: ASM Press, 1991, 822-8. Drew WL, “Diagnostic Virology,” Clin Lab Med, 1987, 7(4):721-40 (review). Reichman RC, “Herpes Simplex Viruses,” Textbook of Human Virology, Belshe RB, ed, Littleton, MA: PSG Publishing Co, 1984, 811-28. Schauf V and Tolpin M, “Varicella-Zoster Virus,” Textbook of Human Virology, Belshe RB, ed, Littleton, MA: PGS Publishing Co, 1984, 829-51. Solomon AR, “New Diagnostic Tests for Herpes Simplex and Varicella Zoster Infections,” J Am Acad Dermatol, 1988, 18(1 Pt 2):218-21. Strommen GL, Pucino F, Tight RR, et al, “Human Infection With Herpes Zoster: Etiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Clinical Course, and Treatment,” Pharmacotherapy, 1988, 8(1):52-68 (review). |
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