Essential requirements
for microbial nucleic acid detection tests ("PCR"):
-
P
riority order - where multiple tests have been requested on the same specimen, order of clinical priority should be clearly numbered, to guide testing when there is insufficient specimen volume for all tests.
-
C
ontamination prevention - a separate, dedicated specimen in a sterile container is required for PCR testing (not for each individual PCR test). Specimens collected in non-sterile containers or shared with other types of testing may be contaminated leading to false positive results.
-
R
required volume - there should be sufficient specimen volume for all tests requested.
Accepted specimen types:
-
Blood
-
Dried Blood Spot 226 Ahlstrom filter paper, 3 x 12mm full circles minimum (5 preferred)
Blood sample requirements:
|
Minimum Test Input Requirement *
|
Blood Tube Volume
|
ADULT
Dedicated Filled Tubes
|
PAEDIATRIC
Dedicated Filled Tubes
|
|
650uL
plasma/serum (
Higher
sensitivity, LLOD 15 IU/mL)
|
1.5mL EDTA/PPT/SST/Plain
|
1x EDTA/PPT/SST/Plain
|
3x Micro EDTA
|
|
350uL
plasma/serum (
Lower
sensitivity, LLOD 40 IU/mL)
|
1.0mL
EDTA/PPT/SST/Plain
|
2x Micro EDTA
|
2x Micro EDTA
|
* Minimum Specimen Requirements
Blood tube volume and corresponding number of tubes to be submitted to laboratory to yield necessary test input requirements. Blood tube volume is for an individual test run, and does not incorporate spare volume or permit repeat testing.