Ordering Recommendation
Preferred single test to confirm hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection following a positive HCV antibody screen. May also be useful to diagnose suspected acute HCV infection or infection in seronegative immunocompromised individuals.
Mnemonic
Methodology
Quantitative Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA)
Performed
Sun-Sat
Reported
1-3 days
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Lavender (EDTA), pink (K2EDTA), yellow (ACD), plasma preparation tube (PPT), or serum separator tube (SST).
Separate from cells within 6 hours of collection. Transfer 2 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP standard transport tube. (Min: 1.2 mL)
Frozen.
Heparinized specimens.
After separation from cells: Ambient: 24 hours (Critical: Ship FROZEN); Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: 2 months
Reference Interval
Not Detected
Interpretive Data
Normal range for this assay is "Not Detected."
The quantitative range of this assay is 10 -100,000,000 IU/mL (1.0 -8.0 log IU/mL).
Lower limit of quantitation (LLoQ):
10 IU/mL (1.0 log IU/mL)
LLoQ values do not apply to diluted specimens.
A result of "Not Detected" does not rule out the presence of inhibitors in the patient specimen or hepatitis C virus RNA concentrations below the level of detection of the test. Care should be taken when interpreting any single viral load determination.
This test should not be used for blood donor screening, associated reentry protocols, or for screening human cell, tissues and cellular tissue-based products (HCT/P).
FDA
Note
The limit of quantification for this RNA assay is 10 IU/mL (1.0 log IU/mL). If the assay DID NOT DETECT the virus, the test result will be reported as "Not Detected." 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 "< ;10 Detected."
Specimens received with less than minimum volume for testing will automatically be run with a dilution according to the guidelines below:
Specimens with 240-700 uL will be diluted 1:3 resulting in a quantitative range of 30 -300,000,000 IU/mL (1.48-8.48 log IU/mL).
This test is intended for use as an aid in the management of HCV-infected patients undergoing antiviral therapy in conjunction with clinical and laboratory markers of infection. This test is also used in assessing HCV RNA levels at baseline, during treatment, at the end of treatment, and at the end of follow-up of treatment to determine sustained or nonsustained viral response.
Hotline History
CPT Codes
87522
Components
Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
---|---|---|
3000573 | HCV Qnt by NAAT (IU/mL) | 11011-4 |
3000574 | HCV Qnt by NAAT (log IU/mL) | 38180-6 |
3000966 | HCV Qnt by NAAT Interp | 11259-9 |
Aliases
- HCV monitoring
- HCV quantitative
- HCV Quantitative PCR
- HCV Quantitative TMA
- HCV Screen confirmation
- HCV Viral Load
- Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)
- Viral load monitoring