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. *PCR and antibody testing cannot be done on shared specimens. Separate
tubes must be clearly labeled for antibody and PCR specimens.

Minimum Volume

2.5 mL

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Rejection Criteria

HCV PCR: gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, heparin plasma, gel-based plasma separation tubes,
specimens subjected to repeat freeze thaw cycles, shared specimens.

Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
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.
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Reference Range

Not detected
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Performing Laboratory

Warde Medical Laboratory
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