BORDETELLA PERTUSSIS / PARAPERTUSSIS BY PCR

Test Code

LAB8539

CPT Codes
87798 x2

Preferred Specimen

BD Universal Transport Media (UTM)

Unacceptable media: Abbott Multi-collect, Abbott Universal collect, eSwab, PrimeStore-MTM, Ruhof, MANTACC, ARUP UTM, media with guanidine-containing materials or ‘molecular media’ that indicates inactivation of pathogens and preservation of RNA/DNA.

Patient Preparation
None

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL (1 mL optimal)

Other Acceptable Specimens

Nasopharyngeal Wash in sterile container

Transport Container

UTM or sterile container

Transport Temperature

Refrigerate

Specimen Stability

Room temperature - 48 hours
Refrigerated - 7 days
Frozen - 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Specimens collected with wooden shaft swabs, calcium alginate swabs, or cotton swabs
Unacceptable media noted above

Methodology
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Setup Schedule

M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, Sun

Batched: Daily

Reference Range

Negative

Positive results are reported to the state of Illinois Board of Health.

Clinical Significance

Brdetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough. Infants are at risk for severe complications. Recovery of organism by culture is difficult due to environmental exposure; PCR testing provides rapid, highly sensitive detection.

Performing Laboratory
Alverno Central Lab

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.