Test ID: HCVRN
CPT code: 87522
LOINC:
Specimen Type: EDTA plasma
Frequency: Setup: Once per week, TAT 1-7 days
Instructions: 1.8 mL plasma from LAV tube. Separate and freeze within 6 hrs. of draw. Stability 5 days REF/60 days FRZ at -20. Do not share tube.
Alternate Serum.
Text: Ultrasens. method to quantitate number of copies of hepatitis C in
positive specimens. Detectable within 1 wk of exposure. Patients with
higher concentrations of HCV RNA are more infectious and more resistant to therapy. Interferon is assoc with a decline in HCV RNA. This test is for monitoring positive patients only, not a screen. Dedicated tube only – no sharing of specimen for other tests (assay is extremely vulnerable to RNA or enzymatic contamination).
Methodology: PCR