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| 80856:VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS (VZV) BY DFA | |||||||||
| Alias Names: | VZV BY DFA | ||||||||
| Methodology: | Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) | ||||||||
| Edit Date: | 6/11/2010 | ||||||||
| Performed: | Daily | ||||||||
| Released: | 48-72 hours after setup at PeaceHealth Laboratories’ reference lab. | ||||||||
| CPT Code: | 87290-90 | ||||||||
| Specimen Collection Details | |||||||||
| Collection: | Swab of a fresh vesicle with cells from the base of the lesion on a Dacron swab with a plastic or fine wire shaft. Place in MicroTest (M4 Media). Break off swab and leave in media. Also acceptable: One or two air dried slides (spread cellular material thinly over a dime size area). Fix in fresh, cold acetone (2-8° C) for 10 minutes at ambient temperature. Slides should be shipped in slide holders. Source of specimen is required. | ||||||||
| Handling: | Specimen greater than 72 hours old must be frozen at –70° C or on dry ice. Do not freeze specimen at –20° C; virus will lose infectivity. | ||||||||
| Stability: | Specimen in M4 Media is stable 24 hours ambient, 72 hours refrigerated, or 7 days frozen. Slide specimen stable ambient. | ||||||||
| Transport: | Swab in M4 Media frozen on dry ice. Slide ambient or refrigerated. | ||||||||
| Comments: | Specimens should be collected early in the acute phase of infection. The chance of viral recovery is best during the first 3 days after onset and is greatly reduced beyond 5 days with many viruses.
Aids in the diagnosis of disease caused by varicella-zoster virus. |
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| Rejection Criteria: | Wooden swab; dry swab; calcium alginate. | ||||||||