Test Code RVRCR Viral Respiratory, Rapid Culture with Reflex [14867X]
Specimen Required
3 mL Nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash or Nasopharyngeal swab
Specimen Minimum Volume
1 mL
Specimen Stability
VCM or equivalent
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days
Raw (unpreserved) specimens
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Rejection Due To
Throat specimen 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
Report Available
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-4 days
Method Name
Centrifuge-Enhanced Culture • Immunofluorescence Stain
Includes
If Viral Respiratory, Rapid Culture Screen is Positive, then Rapid Respiratory Viruses identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT codes(s): 87140 x7)
Collection Container / Tube
Preferred: Nasal Swab in VCM medium
(green top) tube or UTM.
Other Acceptable Container: NP aspirate or NP washing or Bronchial
lavage/wash or Tracheal lavage/wash in sterile screw-cap container
Throat swabs on patients 2 years old in V-C-M medium (green-cap)
tube or equivalent
Transport / Storage Conditions
Nasopharyngeal aspirate or Nasopharyngeal washing or
Bronchial lavage/wash or Tracheal lavage/wash collected in sterile
screw capped container: Refrigerated (cold packs)
All other specimens: Frozen -70° C
Special 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. Raw (unpreserved) specimens should only be refrigerated and not frozen.
Reference Values
Negative
Day(s) Performed
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-4 days
CPT Codes
87254
Clinical Reference
Diagnosis facilitates appropriate selection of antiviral drug therapy for Influenza A and RSV, and prevents inappropriate use of antibiotics.