Hepatitis C RNA, Quantitation
| Abbrev Code: | HCVPCR | ||
| Order Code: | LAB887 | Order Name: | Hepatitis C RNA Quantitative |
| Synonyms: | HCV Viral Load; Hep C; HEPC; HCQNT; HCV RNA | ||
| Methodology: | Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) | ||
| CPT Codes: | 87522 x1 | ||
| Turnaround Time: | Performed twice weekly; results are reported within 4 days. | ||
| Associated Links: | |||
Collection Instructions
| Specimen: | Blood |
| Optimal Volume: | 4 mL |
| Minimum\Peds Volume: | 2.2 mL |
| Container: | 10 mL Purple EDTA tube Alternate Containers: Red or gold (gel) |
| Collection Instructions: | When collecting minimum volumes, specimens cannot be shared with other tests. Please contact IDDL for further information. |
| Causes for Rejection: | Heparinized specimens and sources other than purple EDTA plasma or red or gold (gel) serum are not acceptable for testing. |
Processing and Shipping
| Specimen Processing: |
Within 24 hours centrifuge and aliquot 2 mL; 1 mL minimum. Store refrigerated or frozen.
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| Shipping Instructions: | Ship at refrigerated or frozen. |
| Stability: | Stability: Samples are stable at refrigerated temperature (2-8 degrees C) up to 3 days or frozen (-20 to -80 degrees C) up to 40 days. |
| Test Performed at or Referral Lab | Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (UMMC East Bank) |
Interpretive
| Reference Range: | Not detected. This assay as a result range of 15 to 100,000,000 IU/mL (1.18 log to 8.0 log IU/mL) for quantification of HCV RNA in plasma or serum. A 'Not Detected' result indicates that the assay was unable to detect HCV RNA within the specimen. A '<15 IU/mL (<1.18 log IU/mL)' result indicates that HCV RNA is detected but the level present is less than the lower quantification limit of the assay. A '>100,000,000 IU/mL (>8.0 log IU/mL)' result indicates that HCV RNA is detected, but the level present is above the upper quantification limit of the assay. |
| Use: |
The detection of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection before the appearance of HCV antibodies in serum (i.e., less than 2 months from exposure):
Except for immunocompromised patients or patients with suspected acute hepatitis, laboratory evaluation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status should begin with HCV serologic testing, including testing for the presence of HCV antibodies. A diagnosis of chronic HCV infection should not be based solely on the presence of detectable or quantifiable HCV RNA in a single plasma/serum specimen.
This assay is not for screening blood or tissue donors for HCV.
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