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Tropheryma whipplei (Whipple's) DNA, Qualitative, Real-Time PCR
Test Code11352X
CPT Codes
87798<br><strong>This test is not available for New York patient testing</strong>
Preferred Specimen
>3 mm3 fresh tissue submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container
Minimum Volume
3 mm3 tissue • 0.3 mL CSF, whole blood, or synovial fluid
Other Acceptable Specimens
0.7 mL CSF or synovial fluid submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container • 0.7 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
Tissue and synovial fluid
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Whole blood and CSF
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Whole blood and CSF
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Methodology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 1-2 days
Clinical Significance
Tropheryma whipplei (Whipple's disease) DNA, PCR is a highly sensitive and specific method to detect the presence of Tropheryma whipplei DNA in clinical specimens. The diagnosis of Tropheryma whipplei infection should not rely solely upon the result of a PCR assay. A positive result should be considered in conjunction with clinical presentation and additional established clinical tests. Moreover, this assay cannot differentiate between viable and nonviable organisms. A negative PCR result indicates the absence of Tropheryma whipplei DNA at detectable levels in the samples tested and does not exclude the diagnosis of disease.
