Specimen Collection

Intrauterine infection :
5 mL of amniotic fluid. This is the optimal specimen for identification of intrauterine infection.

Congenital infection - newborn infant :

5 mL of amniotic fluid.

5 mL Sterile Container Amniotic Fluid (Always Required)

Please note: Collect separate, dedicated aliquot for virology. Specimens shared between departments may inadvertently be used up by the other department.

Turnaround Time: Between 6 days and 1 week, 1 day
Assay Method

Real-time PCR matrix assay for toxoplasma, parvovirus B19 and CMV.

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Toxoplasma, Parvovirus and CMV are the most frequent transplacentally transmitted infections in New Zealand. Detection of specific DNA in amniotic fluid confirms intrauterine infection with the corresponding infectious agent. Since the clinical presentations commonly overlap, amniotic fluid specimens submitted for investigation of intrauterine infection will routinely be assayed for all three infections.

CMV PCR

Parvovirus PCR

Toxoplasma PCR

Contact Information

For further information contact the laboratory (contact via Lablink: 22000 or (09) 307-8995 or 0800 522 7587) ,or:
the Virology team virology@adhb.govt.nz

Last updated at 13:13:46 23/09/2020