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Test Code
LEGPR
Test Name
Legionella species, PCR
CPT Codes
87801
Expected Turnaround Time
3 days
Clinical Utility

Sensitive and rapid diagnosis of penumonia caused by Legionella species. The assay is not recommended as a test of cure because bacteria nucleic acids may persist after successful treatment.
Specimen and Container Info

Specimen Type

Collection Container

Desired Volume

Lower respiratory: Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial aspirate/brushing/lavage/washing, tracheal/endotracheal secretions/aspirate, sputum

Sterile Container (preservative free)

1 mL

Fresh Tissue or Biopsy: Lung, pleura, heart valve, pericardium

Sterile Container (preservative free)

Entire collection or 5 mm(3)

Fluid: Pericardial, pleural, chest, chest tube drainage, thoracentesis, empyema

Sterile Container (preservative free)

1 mL
Collection Instructions
  1. Collect specimen aseptically.
Processing and Submission Instructions
  1. Transport specimen in the original collection container.
  2. Specimen source is required.
  3. The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Legionella DNA is unlikely.
Transport Instructions

Transport to the laboratory refrigerated. 
Stability Requirements

Refrigerated

7 days

Frozen

7 days
Causes for Rejection
  • Tissue in foramlin, formaldehyde, or actetone
  • Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) block
Methodology
Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Reference Intervals

 See patient report.
Limitations

This assay does not differentiate between the Legionella species. False-positive results are theoretically possible if patient specimens are contaminated with Legionella DNA, which may occur since Legionella species are environmental organisms present in aquatic environments.
Alternate Names
  • Fluoribacter bozemanae
  • Fluoribacter dumoffii
  • Legionella
  • Legionella sp
  • Legionella spp
  • Legionella bozemanae
  • Legionella dumoffii
  • Legionella gormanii
  • Legionella hackeliae
  • Legionella jordanis
  • Legionella longbeachae
  • Legionella micdadei
  • Legionella oakridgensis
  • Legionella pneumophila
  • Legionella wadsworthii
  • Legionellosis
  • Legionnaires disease
  • Legionella maceachernii
  • Legionella parisiensis
  • Legionella sainthelensi
  • Legionella cincinnatiensis
  • Legionella lansingensis
  • Legionella rubrilucens
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Testing Schedule
Routine, daily
The American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes published by HNL Lab Medicine are guidelines and are intended for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the exclusive responsibility of the billing entity. View the Terms.
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