VIRAL RESPIRATORY PANEL

Conventional Cell Culture with Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) Stain

 

Test Performed At:

 

 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital

 

Specimen Required:

 

Acceptable Specimens:

 

BAL (Bronchoalveolar lavage), nasal aspirate, nasal washing, nasopharyngeal swab in universal/ viral transport medium, or tracheal aspirate

 

 

 

Unacceptable Specimens:

 

Dry swabs, swabs sent in bacterial transport medium, throat swabs, or sputum (see Laboratory Notes below)

 

 

 

NOTE: SPECIMEN SOURCE IS REQUIRED ON REQUISITION TO BE PROCESSED

 

 

 

 

Bronchial Alveolar Lavage (BAL), Nasal Aspirates, Nasal Washings, or Tracheal Aspirates

 

 

Collect specimen as follows:

1.       Aseptically collect 1.0 mL of specimen.

2.       Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

3.       Label transport container with the patient’s full name (first and last), date, and time of collection.

4.       Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

 

 

 

 

Nasopharyngeal Swab

 

 

Collect specimen as follows:

1.       Obtain a vial of universal/ viral transport medium with collection swabs supplied by St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

2.       Collect specimen by inserting swab into nares, and into nasopharyngeal area. (For better virus recovery, collect 2 swabs. Additional swabs are available from the Virology Laboratory.)

3.       Rotate swab to collect epithelial cells from nasopharyngeal area. Hold swab in place for 10 – 15 seconds to increase specimen collection.

4.       Place the swab(s) in vial, break or cut off shaft of swab(s), and discard the shaft. To prevent leaking, make sure swabs do not interfere with tightening cap on vial.

5.       Label transport container with the patient’s full name (first and last), date, and time of collection.

6.       Tightly cap the tube, place in a transport bag, and seal.

7.       Send specimen refrigerated.  SPECIMEN CANNOT BE FROZEN.

 

 

 

Laboratory Notes:

 

 

DFA stain screens for: RSV, Influenza types A & B, Parainfluenza 1,2 & 3, and Adenovirus.

Sputum: NO DFA staining due to interference with stain. Order Viral Culture only.

 

Reference Values:

 

 

DFA Stain: Negative (reported as positive or negative for individual viruses)

Culture: No virus isolated (Virus identified if isolated)

 

For Critical values and callback information:

See: Critical Results, Viral Respiratory Culture

 

Day(s) Test Set Up:

 

 

Monday- Sunday

 

Cut-Off Time:

 

 

CULTURE:

Monday – Friday – 5:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Saturday – 1:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Sunday & Holidays – 10:00 a.m.

 

 

DFA Stain same day result:

Monday – Friday – 5:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Weekends & Holidays – 10:00 a.m.

 

 

NOTE: During respiratory virus season, cut-off times for DFA stain are extended. Refer to “Virology Testing Schedule” in the Lab Test Guidebook under section titled “Individual Clinical Labs”, and Virology.

 

 

 

 

Turn Around Time:

 

 

DFA stain: 3-4 hours

Culture: varies

 

CPT Code:

 

 

87300 x2 -

Antigen detection by IF, polyvalent ea antiserum

 

 

If DFA screen is negative:  87252 -

Virus isolation; tissue culture and inoculation

 

Care Manager Order Name:

 

 

Culture, Viral Respiratory and FA Stain ONCE RTN

 

Cerner Order Name:

 

 

C VRST

 

 Last Update 07/08