VZV (VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS) DNA DETECTION BY PCR (for NON-SWABBED SOURCES)
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is utilized pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
	Test Performed At:
		St. Louis Children’s Hospital
	Specimen Required: ONLY 1 OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIMENS REQUIRED
		BLOOD:
		Draw 1 full lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s) and send 2.5 ml EDTA whole blood. (PLASMA OR SERUM IN NOT ACCEPTABLE) Forward promptly at ambient temperature only. SPECIMEN CANNOT BE FROZEN. Avoid hemolysis.
		SPINAL FLUID:
		Submit 1.0 ml of spinal fluid in a 7.0 ml screw-capped, sterile, plastic vials. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Send specimen refrigerated.
		OCULAR FLUID:
		Submit any volume of ocular fluid in a sterile, screw-capped container. Send specimen refrigerated.
	Laboratory Notes:
	Reference Values:
		Negative (reported as positive or negative for the presence of VZV DNA)
		NOTE:	Assay performed using analyte-specific reagent. See policies section, “Analyte-Specific Reagents (ASR) — St. Louis Children’s Hospital Clinical Laboratory.”
	Critical values (automatic callback): Any positive PCR result
	Every critical test result will be called automatically.
	Day(s) Test Set Up:
		Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
	Cut-Off Time:
		10:00 p.m. the evening prior to testing day
	Turn Around Time:
		1-4 days
	CPT Code:
		87798
	KIDDOS Order Name:
		PCR VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus) - Blood
		PCR VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus) - CSF
		PCR VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus) - Ocular Fluid
	Cerner Order Name:
		PCR VZV

Last Update 09/09

Last Reviewed 09/09