Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) by Quantitative PCR
Test Mnemonic
HHV8QT
CPT Codes
- 87799 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- HHV8
- Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus
Includes
- HHV8 by Quantitative PCR, Copy/mL
- HHV8 by Quantitative PCR, Log copy/mL
- HHV8 by Quantitative PCR, Interp
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Serum | SST (Gold) | Refrigerated | Separate serum from cells and transfer to standard aliquot tube. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Plasma | EDTA (Lavender) | Refrigerated | Separate plasma from cells and transfer to standard aliquot tube. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 1 week |
| Frozen | 1 year |
| Ambient | 24 hours |
Days Performed
Mon, Thu
Turnaround Time
3 - 6 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Quant |
Reference Range
Special Info
Specimen source required. This test is New York state approved.
Clinical Info
This test is useful to detect and quantify herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). The limit of quantification for this DNA test is 3.8 log copies/mL (6,670 copies/mL). If the test DID NOT DETECT the virus, the test result will be reported as "< 3.8 log copies/mL (< 6,670 copies/mL)." If the test 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." A negative result (less than 3.8 log copies/mL or less than 6,670 copies/mL) does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors in the patient specimen or HHV8 DNA concentrations below the level of detection of the test. Inhibition may also lead to underestimation of viral quantitation.
Clinical Limitation
No international standard is currently available for calibration of this assay. Caution should be taken when interpreting results generated by different assay methodologies.