Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) PCR

Label Mnemonic:	HHV8
Epic code:	LAB3316
Downtime form:	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