Culture, Viral, Non-Respiratory, Conventional, Body Fluids or Tissue

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Adenovirus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2, Enterovirus, and Varicella Zoster Virus

For respiratory samples please consider using the following offerings:
14867 - Viral Respiratory Rapid Culture with Reflex
14860 - Respiratory Virus Screen, DFA with Reflex to ID
91246 - Respiratory Virus Panel PCR Panel I
91233 - Respiratory Virus Panel PCR Panel IV

2 mL body fluid or tissue/biopsy collected in VCM or equivalent

1 mL

For body fluids add an equal volume of specimen to transport medium (VCM or equivalent). To maintain optimum viability, place swab or fluid into VCM (equal volumes of fluid and VCM) or equivalent media and transport to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is achieved when samples are frozen at -70°C or colder. Storage or transport -20°C is not acceptable.
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If frozen -70°C transport is not possible, specimens can be refrigerated at 2-8°C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. Note: PCR is the preferred testing method for the detection of HSV and Enterovirus in CSF.

Frozen -70° C (dry ice)

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Wooden shaft and calcium alginate swabs • Dry swabs • Tissue in formalin or other fixatives • Whole blood • Bone marrow in EDTA (refer for PCR testing) • Semen • Sputum • Respiratory specimens • Urine • Conjunctival, oral or genital lesion • Skin lesion • Pleural fluid • Esophageal tissue

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report Available: 2-24 days

See Laboratory Report

Viral isolation in tissue culture remains the most sensitive method or "gold standard" for the detection of many common viruses. Successful isolation depends on the selection of the appropriate cell lines based on provisional diagnosis or symptoms and source of infection.