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Influenza A and B Antigen, DFA
Test CodeINDFA (Quest 8357X)
Preferred Specimen
3 mL nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash, bronchial lavage/wash, in sterile leak-proof container or in VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent viral transport media, or
1 throat or nasopharyngeal swab in 3 mL VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent viral transport media
1 throat or nasopharyngeal swab in 3 mL VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent viral transport media
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Instructions
To maintain optimum viability, place swab or fluid into V-C-M (equal volumes of fluid and V-C-M) 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 V-C-M 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) specimens should only be refrigerated and not frozen.
Transport Temperature
Nasal wash/aspirate
__Room Temperature: Unacceptable
__Refrigerated: 72 hours
__Frozen: Unacceptable
Nasal/nasal turbinate swab
__Room Temperature: Unacceptable
__Refrigerated: 4 days
__Frozen: 30 days
__Room Temperature: Unacceptable
__Refrigerated: 72 hours
__Frozen: Unacceptable
Nasal/nasal turbinate swab
__Room Temperature: Unacceptable
__Refrigerated: 4 days
__Frozen: 30 days
Specimen Stability
Raw (unpreserved) specimens
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Throat specimens on <2 year old patients • Specimen in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens • Dry swabs • Specimen in formalin or other fixatives • Received room temperature or frozen -20°C • Specimen received on slide
Methodology
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay (DFA)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-3 days
Reference Range
See Laboratory Report
Clinical Significance
Influenza type A and B viruses cause seasonal outbreaks of "the flu". Each winter, approximately 10-20% of the population are infected. Both type A and B are included in the flu vaccine.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA |
33608 Ortega Highway |
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042 |