Parainfluenza Virus Antigen Detection, DFA

Test Code
39494


CPT Codes
87279 (x3)

Includes
Parainfluenza 1, Parainfluenza 2, Parainfluenza 3


Preferred Specimen
3 mL nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash, nasal/nasopharyngeal swab, bronchial lavage/wash, or throat swab collected in equal volume of VCM (green-top) or equivalent transport medium, or in a sterile container


Minimum Volume
1 mL


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 (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen.


Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)


Specimen Stability
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Unpreserved specimen in sterile container
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Throats on <2 year old patients • Specimens received in non viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens •  Dry swabs • Received in formalin or other fixatives •  Received at room temperature or frozen at -20° C


Methodology
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay

Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report Available: 1-2 days


Clinical Significance
Parainfluenza virus is the second most common cause of lower respiratory disease in young children. Parainfluenza virus can cause respiratory tract illness in patients of any age.




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.