Cytomegalovirus, Rapid Culture [17511X]

Test Code
842


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
--or--
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 -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 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


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.




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.