Specimen Requirements
Title
Virus Culture
Specimen Requirement
| Specimen source required. | |||
| Swab specimens in viral transport medium. | |||
| Biopsy/tissue specimens in saline or viral transport medium. (snap frozen -20°C). | |||
| Nasal washes in sterile, leak proof sterile container, 2.0 mL (1.0 mL minimum). | |||
| Nasal aspirates in vacuum trap, 1.0 mL (0.5 mL minimum). | |||
| Body fluids undiluted in sterile leak-proof container. 2.0 mL (1.0 mL minimum). | |||
| Stool in sterile leak-proof container, 2.0 mL (1.0 mL minimum). Liquid stool or marble size solid stool. Stool in Cary blair medium. | |||
| Undiluted urine in sterile leak-proof container, 2.0 mL (1.0 mL minimum), for Mumps only. | |||
| Bronchoalveolar lavage/wash in sterile leak-proof container, 2.0 mL (1.0 mL minimum). | |||
| Note: CVD is the preferred method. | |||
| Blood in EDTA (lavender top) tube, 3.0 mL (2.0 mL minimum). Note: CVD is the preferred method. |
Methodology
Standard tube cultures, hemagglutination, hemadsorption, acid lability testing, virus neutralization, polymerase chain reaction and/or monoclonal antibody staining. Viruses that can be isolated include most Adenoviruses, most Enteroviruses, Herpes simplex virus, Influenza A and B, Measles virus, Mumps Virus, Parainfluenza (1, 2 and 3), Respiratory syncytial virus and Rhinovirus.
Stability
Room temperature: 4 hours, Refrigerated: 7 days (except tissues) -- Tissue/Biopsy Only Room temperature: 4 hours, Refrigerated: Unacceptable, Frozen (-20°C): 30 days
Reference Range
By Report*
Turnaround
Up to 14 days, Performed Monday- Saturday
Clinical Use
This procedure wil not reliably detect cytomegalovirus (CMV), enteroviruses, noroviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and varicella zoster (VZV), Comprehensive Virus Detection (CVD) or the individual PCR test is recommended. See CMVDW, EVPCR, NOROV, RSPCR and VZVW. CVDP is strongly recommended for blood, any body fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage/wash, and aspirates. Urine specimens are acceptable for Mumps detection only. CSF is not acceptable for Virus Culture.
Test Code
VCULT