Herpes Simplex Virus Culture with Reflex Typing

Herpes Simplex Virus Culture with Reflex Typing

Test Code

2649
87255
2649
87255
In-home collection is not available in your area through Quest Mobile.

Clinical Significance

Herpes Simplex Virus Culture with Reflex Typing - Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is responsible for several clinically significant human viral diseases, with severity ranging from mild to fatal. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 infection are usually found above the waist. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 infections are more commonly seen in association with the genitalia, and surrounding areas, and are usually sexually transmitted. It is important to note however, that both Herpes Simplex types 1 and 2 have been involved in all disease manifestations and locations of the body, following introduction of the virus through broken skin or mucous membranes.

Test Resources

Algorithm

Laboratory Testing in the Diagnosis of Genital Herpes

Clinical Focus

Genital Herpes: Laboratory Support of Diagnosis and Management

Test Details

Includes

  • If culture is positive, then typing will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87140 per typing)

Methodology

Centrifuge Enhanced Culture • Fluorescent Antibody Stain

Alternative Name(s)

Herpes Simplex Virus Culture, includes Typing

LOINC® Codes, Performing Laboratory

Service Area must be determined
If culture is positive, then typing will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87140 per typing)

Methodology

Centrifuge Enhanced Culture • Fluorescent Antibody Stain

Alternative Name(s)

Herpes Simplex Virus Culture, includes Typing
Service Area must be determined

Preferred Specimen(s)

Nasal/nasopharyngeal swab, throat swab, eye swab, lesion (vesicle) swab, endocervical swab, urethral swab, vaginal swab, rectal mucosal swab transported in VCM tube or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media,
or
3 mL bronchial lavage/wash (BAL), nasopharyngeal lavage/wash, lesion (vesicle) aspirate, tissue/biopsy transported in equal volume of VCM tube or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media or sterile container.

Alternative Specimen(s)

Multiple site swabs from newborns (rectal, mouth, eye, nasal, skin)

Minimum Volume

1 swab • 1 mL fluid • 1 g or 2mm

Collection Instructions

To maintain optimum viability, place swab into VCM (equal volumes of fluid/tissue and VCM) or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8° C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. If there will be a long delay before processing, specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70° C or colder and transported on dry ice. Storage or transport at -20° C is not acceptable.
Raw (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen.

Note: PCR is the preferred test for CSF or eye fluid (preferred specimen: 1 mL CSF or eye fluid submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container without transport media).

Transport Container

VCM tube or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media or Sterile container

Transport Temperature

VCM or equivalent: Frozen at ≤ -70° C (dry ice)
Acceptable: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Raw (unpreserved) specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

  • VCM or equivalent
  • Room temperature: Unacceptable
  • Refrigerated: 4 days
  • Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
  • Frozen -70° C or below: 30 days
  •  
  • Raw (unpreserved) specimen
  • Room temperature: Unacceptable
  • Refrigerated: 72 hours
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria

CSF • Eye fluid • Bacterial transport systems • Dry swab • Molecular transport systems • Semen • Single swab with multiple collection sites and age is not newborn • Slides • Specimens in formalin or other fixatives • Sputum • Stool specimens • Wooden-shaft swabs • Calcium alginate swabs

Setup Schedule

Service Area must be determined
Nasal/nasopharyngeal swab, throat swab, eye swab, lesion (vesicle) swab, endocervical swab, urethral swab, vaginal swab, rectal mucosal swab transported in VCM tube or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media,
or
3 mL bronchial lavage/wash (BAL), nasopharyngeal lavage/wash, lesion (vesicle) aspirate, tissue/biopsy transported in equal volume of VCM tube or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media or sterile container.
Multiple site swabs from newborns (rectal, mouth, eye, nasal, skin)
1 swab • 1 mL fluid • 1 g or 2mm
To maintain optimum viability, place swab into VCM (equal volumes of fluid/tissue and VCM) or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8° C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. If there will be a long delay before processing, specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70° C or colder and transported on dry ice. Storage or transport at -20° C is not acceptable.
Raw (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen.

Note: PCR is the preferred test for CSF or eye fluid (preferred specimen: 1 mL CSF or eye fluid submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container without transport media).
VCM tube or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media or Sterile container
VCM or equivalent: Frozen at ≤ -70° C (dry ice)
Acceptable: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Raw (unpreserved) specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)
VCM or equivalent
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C or below: 30 days

Raw (unpreserved) specimen
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
CSF • Eye fluid • Bacterial transport systems • Dry swab • Molecular transport systems • Semen • Single swab with multiple collection sites and age is not newborn • Slides • Specimens in formalin or other fixatives • Sputum • Stool specimens • Wooden-shaft swabs • Calcium alginate swabs
Service Area must be determined
In-home collection is not available in your area through Quest Mobile.
Test Details

Clinical Significance

Test Resources

Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.

The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.

This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.

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