Parainfluenza Virus Antigen Detection, DFA

Last Modified: 5/2/2022 2:01:21 PM


Medical Necessity Documentation:  
Client Notes:  
Patient Preparation:  
Specimen Requirements:

3.0 mL Nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash Swab in VCM

Collection Instructions: 1. Source of specimen is required, please include on requisition.
2. Specimens should be collected early in the acute phase of infection. The chance of viral recovery is best during the first 3 days after onset and is greatly reduced beyond 5 days with many viruses.
3. Submit 8 acetone-fixed slides or specimens in viral transport media. Acceptable specimens: Nasopharyngeal swab/washings/aspirate, bronchial lavage.
4. Unacceptable specimens: Throat swabs on patients less than 2 years of age, non-respiratory sites, specimen in nucleic acid transport system, dry swabs, wooden or calcium alginate swabs, samples received ambient or frozen at -20 degrees C.
5. Specimens received more than 72 hours from time of draw must be frozen at -70C or on dry ice. Do not freeze at -20 C. Virus loses infectivity.
6. Ship specimens on cold pack or on dry ice. 
7. Viral transport media and dacron-tipped swabs with plastic or fine-wire shafts available for use are provided.
Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL aspirate/wash
Transport & Storage: Temperature/Stability: 4 days Refrigerated (transport)
30 days Frozen Ultra Cold -70° (preferred)

Rejection Criteria: Throats on <2 year old patients • Specimen in non viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens • Dry swabs • Specimen in formalin or other fixatives • Ambient or frozen -20° C • SLIDES
Reference Range:
Parainfluenza 1 Antigen: Not detected   
Parainfluenza 2 Antigen: Not detected   
Parainfluenza 3 Antigen: Not detected
Critical Ranges:  
Test Comments:  
Methodology: Direct Immunofluorescent Assay
Clinical Significance: Aid in the diagnosis of parainfluenza viruses. When combined with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), represents the most significant upper respiratory pathogen in infants and young children
Documentation:  
Custom Panel: No

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Turn Around Time: 2 to 3 days
Days Performed: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Sites Performed: Quest - Chantilly to San Juan Capistrano
PHL Test Code: MSOT
EPIC Test Code:
Send Out Test Code: 39494
Alternate Test Names: Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3 Virus DFA
Included Tests:
Parainfluenza Type 1; Parainfluenza Type 2; Parainfluenza Type 3
CPT Coding: 87279 x 3

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