Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6A and HHV-6B) by Quantitative PCR
Test Mnemonic
HHV6QT
CPT Codes
- 87533 - QTY (1)
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Plasma | EDTA (Lavender) | Frozen | Separate plasma from cells and transfer into a sterile aliquot tube. Must indicate specimen source. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Serum | SST (Gold) | Frozen | Separate serum from cells and transfer into a sterile aliquot tube. Must indicate specimen source. | |
| 1 mL | Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | Sterile container | Frozen | Must indicate specimen source. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Frozen | 3 months |
| Refrigerated | 5 days |
| Ambient | 24 hours |
Days Performed
Tue - Sat
Turnaround Time
2 - 5 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Quant |
Special Info
Specimen source is required. Heparinized specimens will be rejected. This test is New York DOH approved.
Clinical Info
Useful for detecting and quantifying HHV6 subtypes A and B in immunocompromised patients. The quantitative range of this assay is 3.0-6.0 log copies/mL (1,000-999,000 copies/mL). A negative result (< 3.0 log copies/mL or < 1,000 copies/mL) does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors in the patient specimen or HHV6 DNA in concentrations below the level of detection of the test. Inhibition may also lead to underestimation of viral quantitation. There is no international standard currently available for calibration of this test. Caution should be taken when interpreting results generated by different methodologies. The limit of quantification for this DNA assay is 3.0 log copies/mL (1,000 copies/mL). If the assay did NOT detect the virus, the test result will be reported as "<3.0 log copies/mL (<1,000 copies/mL)." If the assay DETECTED the presence of the virus but was not able to accurately quantify the number of copies, the test result will be reported as "Not Quantified."