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Geisinger Medical Laboratories Test Catalog
HIV-1 RNA QUANTITATIVE |
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ORDERING INFORMATION: |
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2469 Geisinger Epic ID: 21623 | |
SPECIMEN COLLECTION |
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Specimen type: |
Plasma | |
Preferred collection container: |
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Specimen required: |
3-4 mL of plasma in one (1) aliquot tube; minimum 2.0 mL of plasma in aliquot. NO SHARED SPECIMENS. | |
| SPECIMEN PROCESSING |
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Specimen processing instructions: |
Separate plasma from EDTA whole blood within 24 hours of collection. Centrifuge for 10 minutes at 3000 rpm, room temperature. Using a sterile pipet, transfer 3-4 mL of plasma to one (1) labeled, sterile, aliquot tube. Each molecular test ordered requires its own aliquot tube (e.g., HIVRNA requires one 3-4 mL aliquot tube, and HEPCR requires one 3-4 mL aliquot tube). | |
Transport temperature: |
Plasma frozen, -20 to -80°C (preferred). Plasma may also be transported at 2-8°C. Transport EDTA whole blood specimens at 2-8°C. | |
Specimen stability: |
Plasma specimens may be stored at 2-8°C for up to 6 days, or frozen at -20°C to -80°C for up to 12 weeks (preferred). EDTA whole blood specimens can be stored at 2-8°C up to 24 hours prior to centrifugation. | |
Rejection criteria: |
Whole blood specimens must be collected in EDTA tubes. Specimens must be separated within 24 hours, or they will be rejected. Plasma must be stored at 2-8°C for up to 6 days and at -20°C to -80°C up to 12 weeks. Stability limits exceeded. Shared or comingled specimens. | |
TEST DETAILS |
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Reference interval: |
Negative copies/mL. | |
Additional information: |
Normal volume of specimen tested is 650 uL of plasma. When 650 uL of plasma is tested, the linear range of the assay is 20 copies/mL to 10,000,000 copies/mL and the lower level of detection (LLoD) of this assay is 13 copies/mL. Positive less than 20 copies/mL will be reported as “HIV RNA Detected, Not Quantifiable.”
Low volume of specimen may be tested using 350 uL of plasma (i.e., neonatal setting, hard stick). When 350 uL of plasma is tested, the linear range of the assay is 50 copies/mL to 10,000,000 copies/mL and the lower level of detection (LLoD) of this assay is 35 copies/mL. Positive less than 50 copies/mL will be reported as “HIV RNA Detected, Not Quantifiable.” |
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CPT code(s): |
87536 | |
| Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding. Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed. The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. | ||
Test includes: |
Quantitative HIV RNA. | |
Methodology: |
Real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) |
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Synonyms: |
HIVRNA, HIV 1 RNA Quant Viral Load HIV Viral Load Quantitative HIV HIV Quant, Human immunodeficiency virus quantitative
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Clinical significance: |
The HIV-1 quantitative test offers a direct measure of viral RNA in an individual's plasma. This test is intended to monitor disease progression and monitor the effects of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected individuals. This test is NOT intended for use as a screening test for the presence of HIV in blood or as a diagnostic test to confirm HIV-1 infection. This test detects HIV-1 Groups M, N and O. | |
Doctoral Director(s:) |
Yi Ding MD, PhD | |
| Review Date: | 12/20/2022 | |