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Test Code
UPPCR
Test Name
Ureaplasma, PCR
CPT Codes
87798 X 2
Included Tests
  • Ureaplasma urealyticum PCR
  • Ureaplasma parvum PCR
Expected Turnaround Time
3 - 4 days
Clinical Utility

Rapid, sensitive, and specific identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum from genitourinary, reproductive, bone, spine, joint, and lower respiratory sources.
Specimen and Container Info

Specimen

Containers

Volume

Swab (Vaginal, cervix, urethra, urogenital, chest/mediastinal; bronchus or lung (donor swab), or upper respiratory sources (only infants <3 months: nasopharynx, nose, throat)

Culturette (BBL Culture Swab), Universal Transport Media (UTM), Viral Transport Medium (M4-RT, M4, or M5,) or Eswab

1 swab

Fluid (Pelvic, peritoneal, amniotic, prostatic secretions, semen, reproductive drainage or fluid, pleural/chest, chest tube, pericardial)

Sterile Container

2 mL

Respiratory (Sputum, tracheal secretions, bronchial washings, bronchoalveolar lavage, lung or nasal washings)

Sterile Container

2 mL

Synovial Fluid

Lavender Top (EDTA), Red Top, Plain, or Sterile Container

1 mL

Urine (Urine-first void, kidney/bladder stone, or ureter)

Sterile Container

10 mL

Tissue (Placenta, products of conception, urogenital, respiratory, bronchus, chest/mediastinal, bone, spine, or joint)

Sterile Container

5 mm (3)
Collection Instructions

Swab Specimen

  1. For vaginal swabs collect specimen by swabbing back and forth over mucosa surface to maximize recovery of cells.
  2. For urethra or cervical swabs, collect specimen by inserting swab 1 to 3 cm and rotating 360 degrees.
  3. For wound swabs collect specimen by swabbing back and forth over wound surface to maximize recovery of cells.
  4. For all specimens, place swab back into swab cylinder.

Fluid, Respiratory, & Synovial Specimens

  1. Collect specimen in a sterile container.

Urine Specimen

  1. Collect first void urine in a sterile container. 
  2. The patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.
  3. The first voided portion is the initial 20 to 30 mL of the urine stream obtained without cleaning the external urethra.

Tissue Specimen

  1. Collect a fresh tissue specimen.
  2. Submit fresh tissue only, do not add fluid to tissue.
Processing and Submission Instructions
  1. Transport all specimen types in their original collection containers.
  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 Ureaplasma DNA is not likely.
Transport Instructions

Transport to the laboratory refrigerated. 
Stability Requirements

Refrigerated

7 days

Frozen

7 days
Causes for Rejection
  • Cotton or calcium alginate-tipped swab, wooden shaft swab, transport swab containing gel or charcoal
  • Formalin-fixed and/or paraffin-embedded tissues
  • Anaerobic fluid vials
  • Dry swab
  • Respiratory fluid specimens placed in viral transport medium
  • Body fluid specimens placed in viral transport medium
Methodology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using LightCycler and Fluorescent Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Reference Intervals

 See patient report.
Limitations

This test is not intended for medicolegal use.

Interfering substances may affect the accuracy of this assay; results should always be interpreted in conjunction with clinical and epidemiological findings.

Since Ureaplasma species may be part of the normal microbiota, results should be interpreted accordingly.
Alternate Names
  •  Ureaplasma species, Molecular Detection, PCR
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Testing Schedule
Monday-Friday
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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