Varicella Zoster Virus PCR and Strain Typing
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| WSLH Department: | CDD - Communicable Disease Division |
| WSLH Test Code: | VR01737 |
| Day(s) Performed: | Monday-Friday |
| Turn-around Time: | 1-3 Days |
| Recommended Uses: | Detection of Varicella zoster virus DNA in dermal lesion specimens and CSF from symptomatic individuals. This test can also be used to differentiate wild-type VZV from vaccine strain infections |
| Pre-approval: | No |
| Contraindications: | Specimens collected from sites other than those listed here will not be tested. Dermal swab specimens MUST be collected from a dermal lesion. |
| Additional Tests Performed: |
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| Preparation for Collection: | |
| Specimen Requirements: | A dermal lesion swab or scab, or CSF is acceptable for testing. Store specimens refrigerated (2-8 °C). Send specimens immediately and within 10 days of collection. Minimum volume for testing is 1 mL. |
| Collection Instructions: | Vesicles and skin lesions: It is best to sample fresh, fluid-filled lesions as more viruses are recovered from these lesions than from older crusted vesicles. The vesicle can then be unroofed and swabbed vigorously to obtain cells from the base of the lesion. Flocked swabs are preferred, but sterile dacron or rayon swabs with plastic handles can also be used. Swabs may be placed in Viral Transport Medium (VTM) or Universal Transport Medium (UTM). Dry swabs are also acceptable. CSF: Collect spinal fluid within seven days of onset of symptoms. Collect in sterile, labeled container. Do NOT put into virus transport medium. |
| Collection Kit/Container: |
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| Requisition Form: |
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| Required Information: | Include patient VZV vaccination status and dates of vaccination on the requisition form, if available. Laboratory regulations require the following minimum information to be provided on the requisition form for a specimen to be accepted for testing: Patient name or unique identifier, date and time of collection, patient date of birth and sex, specimen type/site of collection, test request(s), clinician name and UPIN, and address for reporting results. Please be certain that name/identifier on the form matches that on the specimen label. |
| Rejection Criteria: | Improper specimen type (e.g. a non-lesion dermal swab). Specimens collected with an unacceptable swab type (e.g. cotton or calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden sticks). Swabs placed in unacceptable transport media (e.g. Amies media). Specimens collected >10 days from receipt. Specimens transported without proper coolant. |
| Specimen Handling: | Transport specimens at 2-8 °C with a frozen cold pack. |
| Packaging Requirements: | |
| Courier Information: | This test is eligible for fee-exempt courier service upon pre-approval only. Contact Purple Mountain Dispatch at 800-990-9668 |
| Specimen Receiving Hours: | Monday-Friday 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday 7:45 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Results Include: | No Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) DNA detected, Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) Vaccine Strain DNA detected. Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) Wild-type DNA detected. Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) DNA detected, unable to type, Equivocal, Indeterminate |
| Limitations: | A negative test result does not rule out infection with varicella zoster virus. |
| Additional Tests Recommended: | Mpox (non-variola Orthopoxvirus) RT-PCR VR01720 |
| Additional Comments: |
| Methodology: | Real-time PCR |
| Includes: | Real-time PCR for the detection and strain typing of Varicella zoster virus DNA. If positive for wild-type Varicella Zoster virus DNA, Varicella Zoster virus genotyping will be performed on this specimen. |
| Regulatory Compliance: |
| CPT Code: | 87798 |
| Price: | $225.00 |
| Fee Exempt Eligible: | Yes; If fee-exempt testing at the WSLH is needed, please contact the Wisconsin Immunization Program at 608-267-9959 or after hours at 608 258-0099 |
| Billing and Revenue Office: | 1-800-862-1065 arbill@slh.wisc.edu |