BK Virus, QN, by PCR, Plasma

Test Code

BKQN

Preferred Specimen

1 mL EDTA plasma

Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Instructions

Separate plamsa within 24 hours of collection.

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

7 days refrigerated

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

Gross hemolysis

Report Available

2-4 days

Reference Range

None detected

Clinical Significance

BKV is an important cause of interstitial nephritis and BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in recipients of kidney transplants. Up to 5% of renal allograft recipients can be effected about 40 weeks (range 6-150) post-transplantation.(3) Quantitative PCR analysis of BKV DNA in the plasma is the most widely used blood test for the laboratory diagnosis of BKV-associated nephropathy. Importantly, the presence of BKV DNA in blood reflects the dynamics of the disease: the conversion of plasma from negative to positive for BKV DNA after transplantation, the presence of DNA in plasma in conjunction with the persistence of nephropathy, and its disappearance from plasma after the reduction of immunosuppressive therapy.(4-8) The presence of BKV DNA in plasma at levels > or =10,000 copies BKV DNA/mL may correlate with an increased risk of BKVAN with this assay. Furthermore, the trend of viral DNA quantitation (eg, increasing, decreasing) may be helpful in predicting the onset of BKVAN

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.