Parainfluenza Virus Antigen Detection, DFA

Test Code
39494


CPT Codes
87279 (x3)

Includes
Parainfluenza 1, Parainfluenza 2, Parainfluenza 3


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


Minimum Volume
1 mL • 1 swab


Other Acceptable Specimens
Bronchial lavage/wash collected in VCM medium or equivalent


Instructions
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.


Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)


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


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Dry swabs • Nasal smear • Non-respiratory specimens • Received in formalin or other fixatives • Received in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Sputum • Throat swabs • Unpreserved samples


Methodology
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay

Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-3 days


Reference Range
Parainfluenza 1Not detected
Parainfluenza 2Not detected
Parainfluenza 3Not detected


Clinical Significance
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.


Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042




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.