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Test Code
TWHIP
Test Name
Tropheryma whipplei PCR
CPT Codes
87798
Expected Turnaround Time
8 - 11 days
Clinical Utility

Aid in the diagnosis of Whipple disease for inconclusive or suspicious cases.
Specimen and Container Info

Specimen

Containers

Volume

Serum

Gold Top, Serum Separator

1 mL

Plasma

Lavender Top (EDTA)

1 mL

Whole Blood

Lavender Top (EDTA)

1 mL

CSF

Sterile, Non-additive Container (CSF)

1 mL

Tissue (Fresh)

Sterile, Non-additive Container

-

Tissue (Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded tissue)

-

-
Collection Instructions

Blood

  1. Collect a gold top, serum separator tube or lavender top (EDTA) tube via venipuncture.

CSF

  1. Collect CSF via lumbar puncture.
Processing and Submission Instructions

Plasma and Serum

  1. Separate from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
  2. Transfer 1 mL of serum or plasma to a sterile aliquot tube.

Whole Blood

  1. Transfer 1 mL of whole blood to a sterile aliquot tube.

CSF

  1. Transfer 1 mL of CSF to a sterile aliquot tube.

Tissue

  1. Transfer to a sterile container and freeze immediately.

Specimen source required.
Transport Instructions

Transport whole blood, plasma, serum, or FFPE to the laboratory refrigerated.

Transport tissue to the laboratory frozen.
Stability Requirements

Room Temperature

FFPE: Indefinitely

Whole Blood, Serum, Plasma: 24 hours

Refrigerated

FFPE: Indefinitely

Whole Blood, Serum, Plasma: 14 days

Frozen

Tissue: 1 month

Whole Blood, Serum, Plasma: 1 month
Causes for Rejection
  • Heparinized specimens
  • Tissues in optimal cutting temperature compound
Methodology
Qualitative Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reference Intervals

 See patient report.
Reference Lab
Labcorp Of America Holdings
Testing Schedule
Routine, 2 times per week
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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