Viral Respiratory, Rapid Culture with Reflex [14867X]

14867

LAB18096

If Viral Respiratory, Rapid Culture Screen is Positive, then Rapid Respiratory Viruses identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT codes(s): 87140 x7)

3 mL nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash, or nasopharyngeal swab collected in VCM medium or equivalent

1 mL • 1 swab

Bronchial lavage/wash or throat swabs collected in VCM medium or equivalent

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.

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Specimen in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens (other than conjunctival specimens ordered for Adenovirus culture only) • Swabs not in VCM or equivalent • Specimen in formalin or other fixatives • Unpreserved specimen

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-4 days

Respiratory viruses are responsible for a significant proportion of illness in human populations. Diagnosis may facilitate appropriate selection of specific antiviral drug therapy, prevent inappropriate use of antibiotics and guide patient management decisions.