Specimen Requirements
Title
Cytomegalovirus DNA, Quantitative, Real Time PCR
Specimen Requirement
Preferred sample:
Collect lavender EDTA/1.0 mL whole blood minimum, send room temp or refrigerated.
Alternate sample:
Collect EDTA PPT or SST/1.0 mL plasma/serum, centrifuge and transfer plasma/serum to a screw top plastic vial within 2 hours of collection. Indicate sample type on tube and send.
Methodology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Stability
Room temp: 48 hours, Refrigerated: 8 days, Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Range
The reference ranges are determined by the performing laboratory and will show on the report.
Turnaround
2-3 days
Clinical Use
Quantitative PCR methods may be useful in monitoring CMV replication in immunosuppressed patients or in determining the viral load of CMV in amniotic fluid.
Test Code
CMVQW