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Test Name COVID SARS CoV2 RNA PCR

Specimen Requirements

Preparation of Patient: 

Instruct patient that this is an uncomfortable procedure.

 

Container Type: 

Dry swab in viral transport media.  Acceptable swabs, sterile rayon, foam, polyester or flocked flexible-shaft nasopharyngeal swabs.

 

Specimen Type:

Nasopharyngeal

 

Specimen Collection:

  1. Tilt head back so the head is extended 70o  Place hand on the back of patient's neck if able.
  2. Pass the swab gently through the more patent nostril about 3" to 4" into the nasopharynx keeping the swab near the septum and the floor of the nose parallel to the palette.  Stop when resistance is met and do not force any further.
  3. Rub and roll the swab and leave in place for 10 - 15 seconds to absorb secretions before removing it.

 

Specimen Handling/Transport:

Place swab in viral transport media.  Break or cut the handle end of the swab so that it fits in the vial.  Place cap on vial.  Transport to the laboratory immediately after collection.

 

Specimen Stability/Storage:

Room Temperature:  48 Hours

Refrigerated 2 - 8 oC:  2 Days

 

Specimen Rejection:

N/A

Performing Laboratory

Munson Medical Center Laboratory - Microbiology

Priority, Frequency, Turnaround Time

Priority:

STAT, ASAP, Non-Emergent

 

Frequency:

7 days a week, 24 hours a day

 

Turnaround Time:

0-1 Days

STAT 60 minute from receipt in laboratory

Methodology

Real Time RT-PCR Cepheid platform

Reporting

Reference Range:

Negative or Positive

 

Critical Decision:

None

 

Result Interpretation:

Report Interpretation
SARS-CoV-2 Positive SARS-CoV-2 target nucleic acids are DETECTED by RT-PCR, a nucleic acid amplification method (NAAT) on the Cepheid GeneXpert system.  Testing performed by Munson Healthcare, Traverse City, MI 49684
SARS-CoV-2 Negative SARS-CoV-2 target nuleic acids are NOT DETECTED by RT-PCR, a nucleic acid amplification method (NAAT), on the Cepheid GeneXpert system.  Testing performed by Munson Healthcare, Traverse City, MI 49684

 

Clinical Significance

An outbreak of respiratory illness of unknown etiology in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China was initially reported to WHO on December 31, 2019.  Chinese authorities identified a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has resulted in thousands of conformed human infections in multiple provinces throughout China and in several Southeast Asian countries, Europe and more recently the United States.  Cases of severe illness and deaths have been reported.  The International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) renamed the virus SARS-CoV-2. 

CPT Code(s)

87635