Cytomegalovirus, Rapid Culture [17511X]

Test Code

CMVC

CPT Codes
87254

Preferred Specimen

3 mL bronchial lavage/wash, BAL,
tracheal aspirates, urine, tissue/biopsy, or sterile body fluids
submitted in VCM (green-cap) tube or
equivalent, or in a sterile container. Nasopharyngeal, throat,
rectal lesion, saliva (neonate up to 3 months of age), urogenital
or conjunctival swab submitted in VCM
(green-cap) tube or equivalent

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL other specimens 1 swab

Other Acceptable Specimens

3 mL bone marrow collected in a heparinized tube

Instructions

To maintain optimum viability, place swab or fluid into VCM (equal volumes of fluid 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 samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen. Tissue must be kept moist in small amount of sterile saline.

Note: PCR is the preferred test for CSF and vitreous fluid. Preferred specimen for CSF and vitreous fluid for PCR is: 0.5 mL submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container without transport media. PCR is preferred test for Bone Marrow submitted in EDTA.

Transport Temperature

Specimens in VCM:
Frozen -70° C

Other specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

Specimens in VCM:

Room temperature: Unacceptable

Refrigerated: 4 days

Frozen -20C: Unacceptable Frozen -70C: 30 days

Other specimens:

Room temperature: Unacceptable

Refrigerated: 72 hours

Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Bacterial transport media • Dry swab • Molecular
transport systems • Semen • Slides • Specimens in
formalin or other fixatives • Sputum • Stool specimens
• Wooden-shaft or calcium alginate swabs

Methodology

Tissue Culture/Immunofluorescence

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 4 days

Report Available

Set up: Daily; Report available: 4 days

Reference Range

Not isolated

Clinical Significance

CMV infections are common and usually asymptomatic. In patients who are immunocompromised, CMV may cause disseminated, severe disease. CMV may cause birth defects in a minority of infected newborns. Rapid culture provides results quickly in order to initiate therapy.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute 14225 Newbrook Drive Chantilly, VA 20153

Last Updated: February 20, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.