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Lab Dept:
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Microbiology/Virology
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Test Name:
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HEPATITIS C (HCV) RNA QUANTITATIVE PCR
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General Information
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Lab Order Codes:
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HCVRQ
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Synonyms:
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Hepatitis C Viral Load; Hepatitis C RNA Quantification; HCV (RT-PCR) Quantitative
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CPT Codes:
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87522 – Hepatitis C quantification
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Test Includes:
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Quantification of HCV RNA.
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Logistics
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Test Indications:
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Diagnosis of acute HCV infection before the appearance of anti-HCV antibodies in serum. Confirmatory testing for chronic HCV infection in anti-HCV antibody positive patients. Detection of serum HCV RNA to distinguish between chronic HCV infection and resolved HCV infection among anti-HCV antibody-positive patients.
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Lab Testing Sections:
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Microbiology/Virology - Sendouts
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Referred to:
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Mayo Medical Laboratories (MML Test# 83142)
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Phone Numbers:
Minneapolis:
Saint Paul:
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612-813-6280
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651-220-6550
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Test Availability:
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Daily, 24 hours
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Turnaround Time:
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1-2 days, test performed daily
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Special Instructions:
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This test is intended to be used to monitor known HCV-positive infections. It is not intended for primary detection of HCV infections.
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Specimen
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Specimen Type:
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Blood
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Container:
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Red top tube
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Draw Volume:
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6.6 mL blood
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Processed Volume:
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2.2 mL (Minimum: 1.1 mL) serum
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Collection:
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Routine venipuncture
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Special Processing:
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Lab Staff: Aseptically centrifuge specimen within 4 hours of collection, remove serum aliquot into a screw-capped, round-bottom, plastic vial. Store and ship at frozen temperatures. Forward promptly.
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Patient Preparation:
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None
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Sample Rejection:
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Specimens other than serum
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Interpretive
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Reference Range:
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Negative
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Critical Values:
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None
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Limitations:
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A single negative HCV RNA result with positive anti-HCV antibody status (assay signal-to-cutoff ratio of ≥3.8 by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or ≥8.0 by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA), does not necessarily indicate past or resolved infection).
Individuals with such results should be retested for HCV RNA in1-2 months, to distinguish between patients with past/resolved HCV infection and thos with chronic HCV infection having episodic HCV replication.
Presence of anti-HCV antibodies (assay signal-to-cutoff ratio of ≥3.8 by EIA or ≥8.0 by CIA) in individuals with negative HCV RNA results may be confirmed by Hepatitis C Virus Antibody by Recombinant Immunoblot Assay (RIBA).
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Methodology:
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Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
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References:
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Mayo Medical Laboratories Web Page November 2009
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Updates:
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11/9/2009: Specimen volume increase due to assay change at MML.
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