AnMed Laboratory Services

         

Virus Culture  (C VIRUS)

Synonyms:  Routine Virus Culture
Specimen:  Blood: (1) Green (heparin) top vacutainer tube. Other specimen types: CSF, dermal ocular, genital, mucosal, oral, rectal, respiratory, stool, tissue, urine, or biopsy. Specify the exact source/origin on specimen. Specimen should be tested within 72 hours of collection.
                        Volume:  Full primary tube, 1 mL fluid, 0.5 tissue or 1 swab in viral transport media
Minimum Volume:  1 mL
Collection:  Submit whole blood and maintain at room temperature. Submit swab in viral transport media. Specimen must be kept moist; refrigerate at 2-8°C. 1 mL fluid or 0.5 grams tissue in a sterile, leak proof screw capped container; refrigerate at 2-8°C. Viral Culture media available from AnMed Health Laboratory Services. Media must be kept refrigerated at 2-8°C before and after collection.
Rejection Criteria:  Bacterial swab specimens; grossly leaking transport containers, dry specimens, specimens submitted in fixative or additives; received in expired transport media or incorrect transport device; delay over 72 hrs; wooden shaft; improper labeling.
Reference Range:  No virus isolated
Methodology:  Inoculation of specimen into cultures, incubation of cultures, observation for characteristic cytopathic effect and identification by DFA or other methods
Test Use:  Aid in the diagnosis of viral disease
Additional Information:  Give date of onset of illness, date of collection and brief clinical despription or provisional diagnosis.
Testing Includes:  Specimen sent to LabCorp. LabCorp test # 008573. Based on specimen source, viruses to be detected by cytopathic effect and/or antibody staining include adenovirus, CMV, enteroviruses, HSV, influenza, mumps, parainfluenza, RSV, and V-Z.
Testing Facility:  LabCorp