Legionella Pneumophila Antigen, DFA

Test Code

LEGDFA

Quest Code

34475

CPT Codes
87278

Preferred Specimen

1 gm fresh (unfixed) lung or other respiratory tissue, submitted in a sterile leak-proof container or
3 mL bronchial or transtracheal wash/lavage/aspirate or sputum or pleural fluid submitted in a sterile leak-proof container

Minimum Volume

1 gram lung tissue or other respiratory tissue • 2 mL respiratory fluids

Instructions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lung tissue: Place into sterile container with a small amount of sterile, non-bacteriostatic, distilled water. Do not add saline because it may be inhibitory.

Sputum: Instruct patient to gargle with water and cough deeply to collect deep respiratory specimen in sterile container.

Transport Container

Sterile leak-proof container

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

Slides • Serum • Urine • Expired transport device • Environmental sources • Specimens received in viral transport media

Methodology
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay (DFA)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: Next day

Reference Range

Not detected

Clinical Significance

Bacteria in the genus Legionella primarily cause respiratory illness, i.e., either Legionnaires' Disease, a systemic illness manifested primarily by pneumonia, or Pontiac Fever, a non-pneumonic, influenza-like illness. Legionellae may also cause a variety of other illnesses.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute

14225 Newbrook Drive

Chantilly, VA 20153

Last Updated: August 30, 2014

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.