| HIV-1 Viral Load by real-time PCR, Quantitative (138-8897) | |
|---|---|
| Test Mnemonic: | HIV1-PCR |
| Specimen Requirements: | |
| Collection: | Venipuncture; collect one tube for this test and do not combine with other test orders. |
| Container: | PPT (Pearl top tube) |
| Minimum Volume: | 4ml of whole blood |
| Storage/Transport: | Transport frozen |
| Specimen Preparation: | Within six hours of collection, centrifuge sample at 1000xg for 15 minutes. After centifugation, remove plasma from cells into a screw-top tranport tube. |
| Stability: | Separation must occur within 6 hours of collection, if frozen stable for up to two months |
| Causes for Rejection: | Incomplete and/or incorrect sample identification, insufficient sample volume, incorrect blood collection tube, gross hemolysis, clots, prolonged time to processing, inappropriate storage or transport conditions such as refrigeration, room temperature or unspun samples. |
| Reference Range: | Not detected - <40 copies/mL (below lower limit of quantification); or 40 copies/mL - 10,000,000 copies/mL or >10,000,000 copies /mL (above upper limit of quantification). |
| Turnaround Time: | 3-10 days |
| Methodology: | Real-time PCR |
| Performed: | |
| Lab: | Molecular Diagnostics |
| Synonyms: | HIV Viral Load, HIV Quantitative Test, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV Quant |
| Clinical Indication: | Measurement of HIV-1 viral load. |
| Patient Preparation : | Routine venipuncture |
| CPT 4 Code: | 87536 |
| Note: | This test is replacing the HIV bDNA Quant assay. This test is used to monitor HIV1 positive patients and not as a screening test. Refer to HIV antibody for details on that test, if needed. |
| When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent. | |