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CMV Qualitative By PCR

CMV PCR, Cytomegalovirus by PCR.

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6874, Beaker: XCMVP, WARDE: CYPCR

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: ONE of the following specimen types:

• Amniotic Fluid: 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Urine:  2.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 1.0 mL).
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL): 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Eye Vitreous: 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Eye, Aqueous: 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Bronchial Wash: 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Sputum: 1.0 mL in a sterile collection container (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Bone Marrow: 1.0 mL in a Lavender top EDTA tube (Minimum: 0.5 mL).
• Tissue:  In saline or viral transport medium (Snap frozen -20°C).
• Throat Swab:  In viral transport medium.
• Rectal Swab:  In viral transport medium.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

• Fresh tissue must be snap frozen on dry ice for transport.
• Maintain all other specimen types 1.0 mL refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Fresh tissue, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). All other specimen types 1.0 mL refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL).

Rejection Criteria

• Tissues in formalin or other preservatives.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

• Fresh tissue must be snap frozen on dry ice for transport.
• Maintain all other specimen types 1.0 mL refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Storage

Fresh Tissue
Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 2 weeks

All Other Specimen Types
Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 3 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 2 weeks
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 2 weeks

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Send to Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.

Performed

Monday – Saturday.
Results will be available in 2-4 days.

Reference Range

Not detected.

Test Methodology

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

Interpretation

This is a qualitative assay. CMV is qualitatively present or absent. A negative result does not rule out infection. The analytical sensitivity of this assay is 600 copies/mL.

Clinical Utility

CMV-PCR aids in the diagnosis of CMV in congenitally infected neonates, bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients, immunocompromised patients, immunocompetent individuals with active infection, encephalitis/meningitis, and healthy blood donors. PCR can be positive during asymptomatic reactivation.

Clinical Disease

Most adults and children who are infected with CMV are asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients may experience fever, sore throat, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy. CMV can persist in the body in a latent form and reactivate at a later date. CMV infections in pregnant women, newborns and immunocompromised individuals can pose substantial medical risk. In utero infection can cause mental retardation, microencephaly, hearing loss, and developmental delays. Immunocompromised individuals can develop serious CMV infections. Several serious, often life-threatening syndromes have been associated with CMV infection including: heterophile- negative mononucleosis-like syndrome in young adults, cytomegalic inclusion disease in congenitally infected infants, interstitial pneumonia, retinitis, and febrile illness among organ transplant and other immunocompromised patients, and a post-transfusion syndrome characterized by pneumonitis, hepatitis, and atypical lymphocytosis, especially in premature infants.

Epidemiology

Cytomegalovirus infections are common throughout the world. By puberty, 40-80% of children are infected and by age 35, almost 100% of the population is infected.

Incubation Period

3-8 weeks following transfusion and 3-12 weeks following perinatal infection.

Transmission

CMV is transmitted by contact with body fluids, through blood transfusion, or organ transplantation. The most common routes of infection are from close contact with infected oropharyngeal secretions, vaginal or cervical secretions, semen, urine, breast milk or blood. Congenitally or perinatally infected children can shed large amounts of virus in saliva for 2 - 4 years and for 5 or more years in urine.

CPT Codes

87496
LOINC:  5000-5

Contacts

Last Updated

12/15/2022