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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Antigen, DFA
Test Code5291
CPT Codes
87280
Preferred Specimen
3 mL of nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash or nasopharyngeal swab in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Bronchial lavage/wash or tracheal aspirate in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent • Nasopharyngeal lavage/wash or bronchial lavage/wash in a sterile screw cap container
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)
Note: Specimens in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent may be shipped at -70° C
Note: Specimens in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent may be shipped at -70° C
Specimen Stability
VCM medium (green-cap) tube 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
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
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Specimen in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens • Dry swabs • Slides • Specimen in formalin or other fixatives • Received room temperature or frozen -20° C
Methodology
Direct Immunofluorescence (DFA)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 1-2 days
Clinical Significance
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory disease in children from the ages of 6 weeks to 2 years and in the elderly. RSV infection can be fatal. Rapid early diagnosis permits the early administration of antiviral drugs in severe infections.