Varicella Zoster (VZV) Viral Culture, Rapid
Order Name
C Varicella
Test Number: 6000555
Revision Date 03/18/2024
Test Number: 6000555
Revision Date 03/18/2024
| Test Name | Methodology | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
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Varicella Zoster (VZV) Viral Culture, Rapid
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Shell Vial Culture |
| SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen | Specimen Volume (min) | Specimen Type | Specimen Container | Transport Environment |
| Preferred | See Instructions | See Instructions | Viral Transport Media | Refrigerated |
| Instructions | Specimen Source: Vesicle fluid, vesicle scrapings Container: Viral, Chlamydia, or Mycoplasma culture transport provided by LabCorp, or other appropriate transport medium. Smears of vesicle fluid may also be submitted for DFA at additional charge [test 185009]. Keep specimens Refrigerated and moist. Specimen Collection: Do NOT prepare collection site with alcohol or iodophors. Vesicle fluid from several vesicles can be pooled and added to viral transport medium. Alternatively, the bases of several freshly unroofed lesions can be vigorously sampled with a sterile swab that subsequently should be placed into cold viral transport medium and sent to the laboratory as soon as possible. Indicate exact specimen source (eg, lesion). on specimen and requisition. 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. AOE Prompt Code: VZ Source 5196917 |
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| GENERAL INFORMATION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expected TAT | 5 - 6 days from set up | ||||||
| Clinical Use | Varicella-zoster virus is a single virus that causes two diseases: chickenpox (varicella) in children and, after reactivation from latency, shingles (zoster) in adults. Disease caused by VZV is usually self-limited; however, the disease can be life-threatening in pregnant persons, immunocompromised persons, and children who receive cancer therapy. In addition, congenital chickenpox can result in neonatal systemic disease and/or congenital malformations. Serology for the detection of VZV antibodies is available. Rapid turnaround time of serological tests can be especially important in detecting the presence of antibody (prior exposure) in pregnant persons who have been exposed to persons with chickenpox because VZIG should be given within three days (maximum) of exposure. Cell culture of VZV often has been reported to be less sensitive than direct antigen detection of VZV by immunofluorescence. | ||||||
| Performing Labcorp Test Code | 186031 | ||||||
| Notes | Method: Shell vial or multiwell plate cell cultures stained at 48 hours and 4 days Synonym: Chickenpox Culture; Culture, Varicella-Zoster Virus; Shingles Culture; VZV Culture Possible Reflex Order Code: 5196918 .Reflex Viral Identification
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| CPT Code(s) | 87254 (Possible 87253) | ||||||
| Lab Section | Reference Lab | ||||||