Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) PCR
Label Mnemonic: HHV8
Epic code: LAB3316
Downtime form: A-1a Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery
Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
Specimen(s):
Whole Blood
Collection Medium:
Pink top tube 6 mL (K2-EDTA)
Minimum:
Whole Blood (preferred): 3 to 5 mL collected in EDTA tube
Rejection Criteria:
Whole blood frozen.
Delivery Instructions:
Deliver to laboratory immediately after collection.
Turn Around Time:
24 hours upon receipt in reference laboratory
Reference Range:
Expected value is not detected
Comments:
HHV-8 is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS). Numerous studies have documented a higher risk of developing KS among HIV patients, organ transplant patients, and other immunocompromised individuals. Quantitative HHV-8 DNA PCR can be used to document the presence of the virus as well as track the course of infection.

The primers and probes used in this assay are specific for known strains of HHV-8 based on similarity search algorithms. Additionally, no cross reactivity was detected when tested against adenoviruses, BKV, CMV, EBV, HSV-1, HSV-2, HHV-6 variant A, HHV-6 variant B, HHV-7, JCV, parvovirus B19, SV-40, and VZV.
Methodology:
Quantitative Real-Time PCR
CPT Code:
87799
 
See Additional Information:
Specimens Requiring Immediate Delivery