RNA, Real Time PCR (Non-Graph)

Test Code

550430

Alias/See Also

HIV-1 Plasma Viremia; HIV-1 RNA by Real-time (RT) PCR, Quantitative; Viral load

CPT Codes
87536

Preferred Specimen

Plasma

Minimum Volume

1.1mL

Instructions

Collect specimen in lavender-top (EDTA) tube OR PPT(TM). Do NOT use green-top (heparin) tubes. Centrifuge specimen within six hours of collection. Remove plasma, transfer plasma to a screw-cap polypropylene transport tube (not "pop top" or "snap cap"), and freeze. Ship frozen (preferred). DO NOT SHIP FROZEN IN PPT(TM). If PPT(TM) is used to collect plasma, specimen must be transferred to a screw-cap tube prior to freezing to avoid false elevation of low viral load samples. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, PLEASE SUBMIT SEPARATE FROZEN SPECIMENS FOR EACH TEST REQUESTED.

Transport Container

screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport tube.

Transport Temperature

Freeze

Specimen Stability

Room temp: 1 day; Refrigerate: 5 days

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

Hemolysis; green-top (heparin) tube; specimen received in "pop-top" or "snap-cap" tube; quantity not sufficient for analysis; frozen PPT™

Methodology
COBAS(R) AmpliPrep/COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) HIV-1 Test,Version 2.0

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.