Legionella RT-PCR Test
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| WSLH Department: | CDD - Communicable Disease Division |
| WSLH Test Code: | MP00441 |
| Day(s) Performed: | Monday-Friday |
| Turn-around Time: | 1-3 days |
| Recommended Uses: | Detection and differentiation of Legionella spp. in sputum or BAL identification and serogrouping of known or suspected isolates of Legionella for epidemiological purposes. |
| Pre-approval: | No |
| Contraindications: | This test is for clinical use only, not for use with environmental samples. |
| Additional Tests Performed: |
Legionella Culture (Test Code MP00420) is automatically performed on all positive specimens to recover an isolate for public health surveillance. Results will be reported to the submitter. There will be no additional charge for Legionella Culture for public health surveillance. |
| Preparation for Collection: | |
| Specimen Requirements: | Sputum or BAL from suspect patients, collected in a sterile container. Pure bacterial isolate of known or suspected Legionella spp. on BCYE agar. |
| Collection Instructions: | Collect respiratory specimens according to instructions in Kit #8. |
| Collection Kit/Container: |
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| Requisition Form: |
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| Required Information: | 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 which is required to have a minimum of two identifiers. |
| Rejection Criteria: | Primary specimens from non-respiratory sources Primary specimens received at ambient temperature Primary specimens received outside of the stability range |
| Specimen Handling: | Primary specimens can be stored at 2-8°C until transport and transported with frozen cold packs. Primary specimens must be tested within 3 days of collection. If specimens will not be tested for 3 or more days, they should be stored at -20°C until ready for shipment and shipped on dry ice. Isolates may be stored and shipped at ambient temperatures; avoid freezing. |
| Packaging Requirements: | |
| Courier Information: | Only eligible for fee-exempt courier if pre-approved by a health department |
| Specimen Receiving Hours: | Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Results Include: | Legionella DNA detected/not detected, Legionella pneumophila DNA detected/not detected, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 DNA detected/not detected |
| Limitations: | A negative result does not rule out infection with Legionella. Not validated for non-respiratory specimens. Transtracheal aspirates have the highest yield of positive results. Sputum and pleural fluid have a lower yield. |
| Additional Tests Recommended: | |
| Additional Comments: |
| Methodology: | Real-time PCR |
| Includes: | RT-PCR for the detection of DNA specific for Legionella (ssrA gene), L. pneumophila (mip gene), and L. pneumophila serogroup 1 (wzm gene) from primary respiratory specimens or bacterial isolates. |
| Regulatory Compliance: |
| CPT Code: | 87541, 2x 87798 |
| Price: | $150.00 |
| Fee Exempt Eligible: | Yes, with health department pre-approval to support outbreak investigations |
| Billing and Revenue Office: | 1-800-862-1065 arbill@slh.wisc.edu |