ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA Quantitative Real-Time PCR : 0055598

Mnemonic: HIVPCRQ

Methodology: Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Performed: Sun-Sat
Reported: 1-2 days
Specimen Required: Collect: Lavender (EDTA), pink (K2EDTA), plasma preparation tube, or CSF.

Specimen Preparation: Separate plasma from cells within 24 hours of collection. Transfer 3 mL plasma or CSF to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube and freeze. (Min: 1.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions: Serum. Heparinized specimens. Specimens submitted in plasma preparation tube.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): On Cells: Ambient: 24 hours; After separation from cells: Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: 6 days; Frozen: 6 weeks
Reference Interval:
Not detected
Interpretive Data: The quantitative range of this assay is 1.3-7.0 log copies/mL (20-10,000,000 copies/mL).

An interpretation of "Not Detected" does not rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors or HIV-1 virus RNA concentrations below the level of detection of the assay. Care should be taken in the interpretation of any single viral load determination. The clinical significance of changes in HIV-1 RNA measurements has not been fully established; however, a change of 0.5 log copies/mL may be significant.

This assay should not be used for blood donor screening, associated re-entry protocols, or for screening Human Cell, Tissues and Cellular Tissue-Based Products (HCT/P).
Note: The limit of quantification for this RNA assay is 1.3 log copies/mL (20 copies/mL). If the assay DID NOT DETECT the virus, the test result will be reported as "<1.3 log copies/mL (<20 copies/mL)." If the assay DETECTED the presence of the virus but was not able to accurately quantify the number of copies the test result will be reported as "Not Quantified."

Specimens received with less than minimum volume for testing will automatically be run with a dilution according to the guidelines below:
--Specimens with 500-1000 µL will be diluted resulting in a modification of the quantitative range of the assay to 1.6-7.3 log copies/mL (41-20,000,000 copies/mL).
--Specimens with 200-500 µL will be diluted resulting in a modification of the quantitative range of the assay to 2.0-7.7 log copies/mL (102-51,000,000 copies/mL).

This test is intended for use in conjunction with clinical presentation and other laboratory markers as an indicator of disease prognosis. This test is also used as an aid in assessing viral response to antiretroviral treatment as measured by changes in HIV-1 RNA levels.
CPT Code(s): 87536
Cross References: HIV-1 RNA (Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA Quantitative Real-Time PCR), HIV-1 RNA Viral Load (Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA Quantitative Real-Time PCR), Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1), Quantitative, RNA (Abbott RealTime) (Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 RNA Quantitative Real-Time PCR)