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Test Code HPCOV Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), Molecular Detection, Varies


Ordering Guidance


Due to the non-specific clinical presentation of COVID-19 during the early stages of the illness, testing for other respiratory infections (eg, influenza) may be warranted.



Specimen Required


Preferred:

Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal swab

Container/Tube: Sterile container with viral transport media

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen with a minimum of 1.5 mL (maximum 3 mL) of transport media.

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect specimen by swabbing back and forth over mucosa surface to maximize recovery of cells.

2. Swab must be placed into viral transport media (eg, M4-RT, M4 or M5), saline, or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Media should not contain guanidine thiocyanate (GTC).

 

Specimen Type: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Additional Information: Do not aliquot into viral transport media.

 

Acceptable:

Specimen Type: Oropharyngeal (throat) swab, nasal mid-turbinate, or nares/nasal swab

Supplies:

-Culturette (BBL Culture Swab) (T092)

-Mid Turbinate (MT) Swab (FLOQSwab/COPAN) (T864)

-Swab, Sterile Polyester (T507)

Container/Tube: Sterile container with transport media

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen with a minimum of 1.5 mL (maximum 3 mL) of transport media.

Preferred: BBL Culture Swab, COPAN Mid-turbinate Swab

Acceptable: Dacron-tipped swab with plastic handle

Collection Instructions: Swab must be placed into viral transport media (eg, M4-RT, M4, or M5), saline, or PBS. Media should not contain guanidine thiocyanate (GTC).

 

Specimen Type: Bronchial washings, endotracheal aspirate, sputum

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Additional Information: Do not aliquot into viral transport media.


Useful For

Diagnosis of COVID-19 illness due to SARS-CoV-2

Method Name

Reverse Transcription, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR)

Reporting Name

SARS CoV-2 RNA, PCR, Varies

Specimen Type

Varies

Specimen Minimum Volume

Upper respiratory tract swab: See Specimen Required; lower respiratory specimens: 0.3 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Frozen (preferred) 14 days
  Refrigerated  72 hours

Reject Due To

Bloody specimen Calcium alginate-tipped swab
Wooden shaft swab
Dry swab Glass transport media tubes
Transport swab containing gel or charcoal additive Sample tubes containing guanidine isothiocyanate, guanidine thiocyanate, or guanidine hydrochloride		 Reject

Clinical Information

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that causes COVID-19. Like other coronaviruses that infect humans, SARS-CoV-2 can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract illness. Symptoms can range from mild (ie, the common cold) to severe (ie, pneumonia) in both healthy and immunocompromised patients. SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs primarily via respiratory droplets. During the early stages of COVID-19 disease, the symptoms maybe nonspecific and resemble other common respiratory infections, such as influenza. If testing for other respiratory infections is negative, specific testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) may be warranted.

 

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is likely to be at the highest concentrations in the nasopharynx during the first 3 to 5 days of symptomatic illness. As the disease progresses, the viral load tends to decrease in the upper respiratory tract, at which point lower respiratory tract specimens (eg, sputum, tracheal aspirate, bronchoalveolar fluid) may be more likely to have detectable SARS-CoV-2.

Reference Values

Undetected

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

87635