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VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS CULTURE
Message"If reflex test is performed, additional charges/CPT code(s) may apply.
Include one specimen per test request form. See Virus, Direct Detection DFA, Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) [185009]. Indicate exact specimen source (eg, lesion) on the test request form. Do not use transport devices beyond the expiration date.
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Include one specimen per test request form. See Virus, Direct Detection DFA, Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) [185009]. Indicate exact specimen source (eg, lesion) on the test request form. Do not use transport devices beyond the expiration date.
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Test Code
8243
Alias/See Also
"Chickenpox Culture
Culture, Varicella Zoster Virus
Shingles Culture
VZV Culture
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Culture, Varicella Zoster Virus
Shingles Culture
VZV Culture
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CPT Codes
87254
Includes
"Shell vials or equivalent multiwell plate with fluorescent antibody staining. CPT coding for microbiology and virology procedures often cannot be determined before the culture is performed. This culture is for the isolation of varicella-zoster, other vir
Preferred Specimen
"Vesicular fluid, vesicle scrapings
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Instructions
"Do not prepare collection site with alcohol or iodophors. Vesicle fluid from several vesicles can be pooled and added to viral transport medium. Alternatively, the bases of several freshly unroofed lesions can be vigorously sampled with a sterile swab that subsequently should be placed into cold viral transport medium and sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.
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Transport Container
"Viral, Chlamydia, or Mycoplasma culture transport provided by LabCorp, or other appropriate transport medium. Smears of vesicle fluid may also be submitted for DFA at additional charge [test 185009].
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Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
"Keep specimens cold and moist
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Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
"Bacterial swab specimen; specimen received in grossly leaking transport container; dry specimen; specimen submitted in fixative or additive; specimen received in expired transport media or incorrect transport device; inappropriate specimen transport cond
Methodology
"Shell vial or multiwell plate cell cultures stained at 48 hours and four days "
Reference Range
"No virus isolated
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Clinical Significance
"Aid in the diagnosis of disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (ie, chickenpox and shingles)
Varicella-zoster virus is a single virus that causes two diseases: chickenpox (varicella) in children and, after reactivation from latency, shingles (zoster) in adults. Disease caused by VZV is usually self-limited; however, the disease can be life-threatening in pregnant persons, immunocompromised persons, and children who receive cancer therapy. In addition, congenital chickenpox can result in neonatal systemic disease and/or congenital malformations. Serology for the detection of VZV antibodies is available. Rapid turnaround time of serological tests can be especially important in detecting the presence of antibody (prior exposure) in pregnant persons who have been exposed to persons with chickenpox because VZIG should be given within three days (maximum) of exposure. Cell culture of VZV often has been reported to be less sensitive than direct antigen detection of VZV by immunofluorescence.1,2
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Varicella-zoster virus is a single virus that causes two diseases: chickenpox (varicella) in children and, after reactivation from latency, shingles (zoster) in adults. Disease caused by VZV is usually self-limited; however, the disease can be life-threatening in pregnant persons, immunocompromised persons, and children who receive cancer therapy. In addition, congenital chickenpox can result in neonatal systemic disease and/or congenital malformations. Serology for the detection of VZV antibodies is available. Rapid turnaround time of serological tests can be especially important in detecting the presence of antibody (prior exposure) in pregnant persons who have been exposed to persons with chickenpox because VZIG should be given within three days (maximum) of exposure. Cell culture of VZV often has been reported to be less sensitive than direct antigen detection of VZV by immunofluorescence.1,2
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