Test Details
Mnemonic
HCVQL
Ordering Code
3010550
CPT-4 Code(s)
87521
Specimen Information
Collect
Lavender EDTA
Specimen Preparation
Centrifuge and separate plasma from cells within 6 hours of collection. Send 3.0 mL plasma in a screw capped plastic vial. Dedicated specimens are required. Specimens used in other assays will not be tested.
Alternate Specimen
Serum: Red top
Minimum Volume
2.5 mL
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Rejection Criteria
All gel-based plasma separation tubes, shared specimens, specimens subjected to repeated freeze-thaw cycles, specimens that do not meet the storage/handling conditions criteria above
Stability
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 3 days
Frozen (-20°C): 60 days
Frozen (-70°C): 60 days
Refrigerated: 3 days
Frozen (-20°C): 60 days
Frozen (-70°C): 60 days
Methodology
This procedure utilizes a real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test from Abbott Molecular. The amplification target is a conserved region of the HCV genome. The qualitative limit of detection is 12 IU/mL (1.08 Log IU/mL). A "Not detected" result does not rule out infection.
Reference Range
Not detected
Performing Laboratory
Warde Medical Laboratory