Toxoplasma gondii DNA, Qualitative Real-Time PCR : 34451

TOXGOQ or 34451

T gondii DNA, Toxoplasmosis

Amniotic fluid or CSF or tissue collected in a sterile screw cap container. Plasma collected in:  EDTA (lavender-top), ACD (yellow-top) tube, SST (red-top) tube, Whole blood collected in: EDTA (lavender-top), ACD (yellow-top) tube, Vitreous fluid collected in a sterile screw cap container, Amniotic fluid supernatant collected in a sterile screw cap container. Do not dilute vitreous fluid with additional saline.

Transport 1 mL (Min: 0.3 mL) amniotic fluid or CSF,  3 cubic mm tissue (Min: 3 cubic mm), or  0.2 mL (Min: 0.2 mL) vitreous fluid.  If sending plasma or serum or amniotic fluid supernatant, centrifuge and transfer to a standard transport tube. (Min: 0.3 mL). Transport whole blood.

Refrigerated.

Amniotic fluid, CSF, Tissue, Plasma, Serum, Vitreous fluid, or Amniotic fluid supernatant: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 30 days

Whole blood: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: Unacceptable

Hemolyzed whole blood.

Sunday - Saturday

1-2 days (From receipt at performing laboratory)

This test was developed and its performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. Performance characteristics refer to the analytical performance of the test.

This test is performed pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.

Not detected.

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, is an important opportunistic pathogen of immunosuppressed patients. In AIDS patients and transplant patients, this infection may result in a life-threatening encephalitis. T. gondii can also cause a fatal infection of the fetus if an infection is acquired during pregnancy. Fetal death or major abnormalities such as blindness and mental retardation may occur when infection is acquired during the first trimester. PCR methods may be useful in identifying T. gondii in CSF of immunosuppressed patients or in the amniotic fluid of mothers thought to be recently infected.