Specimen:

Serum, Plasma, Amniotic, Synovial Fluid, CSF, Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), Ocular Fluid, Tissue or

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Red top tube, Lavender top tube (EDTA), Pink top tube (EDTA sprayed)

Minimum:

Absolute adult minimum:  1 mL serum/plasma (spin samples and remove 
serum or plasma before transporting), amniotic or synovial fluid, or 
tissue (freeze tissue immediately in appropriate plastic tube).

Preferred pediatric minimum:  0.25 mL serum, plasma or synovial fluid 
in a sterile container.

Rejection Criteria:

Nonsterile or leaking containers. Heparinized or hemolyzed samples.  
Frozen whole blood.  Tissues only in formalin or other preservatives.

Analytic Time:

4 working days

Reference Range:

Negative - Parvovirus DNA not detected by PCR
A negative result does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors in 
the patient specimen or Parvovirus DNA in concentrations below the 
level of detection by the assay.

Positive - Parvovirus B19 DNA detected by PCR

Comments:

Fresh tissue (snap frozen) or formalin fixed and/or paraffin embedded 
tissue are also accepted specimen types.  Formalin fixed or paraffin 
embedded tissue can be submitted but it is not an optimal sample.  
Sterile technique required for handling samples.

Methodology:

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

CPT Code:

87798

See also:
Parvovirus B-19 by PCR, Bone Marrow
Parvovirus B19 Antibodies, IgG & IgM, Serum