Herpes Simplex Virus Culture with Reflex Typing : 2649

QHSVCR or 2649

Herpes Simplex Virus Culture with Reflex Typing

If culture is positive, typing will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87140 per typing).

Nasal/nasopharyngeal swab, endocervical swab, eye swab or lesion (vesicle) aspirate swab, urethral swab, vaginal swab, rectal mucosa swab or throat swab collected in V-C-M (green-cap) tube or FDA equivalent.

Alternative specimen: 3 mL bronchial lavage/wash or nasopharyngeal lavage/wash or Fresh (unfixed) tissue (1 g) collected in V-C-M (green-cap) tube or FDA equivalent or sterile screw-cap container.

To maintain optimum viability, place swab into V-C-M (equal volumes of fluid/tissue and V-C-M) 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 V-C-M 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 (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen.

Refrigerated.

V-C-M or equivalent: Room temperature: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable; Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Raw (unpreserved) specimens: Room temperature: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable

CSF, Sputum, Raw (unpreserved) stool, Dry swabs, Molecular transport systems, Bacterial transport systems, Tissue or biopsies in formalin or other fixatives, Calcium alginate swabs, Wooden shaft swabs, Non gel-based bacterial transports.

Tuesday - Saturday

3-5 days (From receipt at performing laboratory)

Negative

A clinical diagnosis of HSV infection is based on identifying characteristic multiple vescicles on an erythematous base. HSV culture is useful in verifying HSV is present within the vesicles. Rapid culture allows for the initiation of therapy that may diminish the severity of symptoms and shorten the length of symptoms.