Specimen Requirements
Title
Cytomegalovirus DNA, Quantitative, Real Time PCR
Specimen Requirement
Collect lavender EDTA and send same day collected, dedicated sample preferred.
Sample is only stable as whole blood for 24 hours. If storing before sending, centrifuge and pipette 2.0 mL plasma into a screw top plastic vial, indicate sample type on plastic vial and send.
Methodology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Stability
Room temp: 24 hours, Refrigerated: 6 days, Frozen: 84 days
Reference Range
The reference ranges are determined by the performing laboratory and will show on the report.
Turnaround
2-4 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