Printable Test Catalog - OU Medicine

the freshest lesion or vesicle (dew drop fluid).
3. Unroof the vesicle with a needle or #15 Bard-Parker scalpel
and swab the base of the lesion. Cut or break the swab off in to
the viral transport medium.
4. After collecting the specimen for culture use a #15
Bard-Parker scalpel to scrape the base of the lesion with the
scalpel. It is essential to obtain basal and parabasal cells
from the base of the lesion.
5. In the center of 2 glass slides, smear the specimen in a
circular motion out to the size of a dime. Air dry slides, place
in holder, label, seal, and transport to the lab immediately.
If FA is positive, the culture is not performed.
TUBE OR CONTAINER: Viral transport media
SPECIAL HANDLING: Indicate source on requisition
TEST AVAILABILITY: Monday-Saturday
TURNAROUND TIME: 1-2 days
METHODOLOGY: Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA)
CLINICAL INFORMATION: Culture is the preferred method for
recovery of Herpes virus. Use this order for a viral, skin
lesion or vesicle.
[VHSVFAI] HSV FA + CULTURE (SKIN LESION)
SPECIMEN REQUIRED: Refrigerated specimen
COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Pick freshest vesicle, aspirate fluid with tuberculin
syringe and place in viral transport medium
2. Collect culture first
3. Unroof vesicle with #15 Bard-Parker scalpel
4. Scrape the base of the vesicle (obtain basal and parabasal
cells)
5. In the center of 2 glass slides smear the specimen in a
circular motion out to the size of a dime
TUBE OR CONTAINER: Viral transport media, 2 glass slides
SPECIAL HANDLING: Transport to the lab immediately
ORDERING MODULE: MIC
TEST INCLUDES: HSV FA and viral culture; if FA is positive,
culture is not performed
TEST AVAILABILITY: Monday-Saturday
TURNAROUND TIME: 1-10 days
REFERENCE RANGE: Negative
METHODOLOGY: Cytopathic effect (CPE) and Direct fluorescent
antibody (DFA)
CLINICAL USE: Isolate and identify Herpes simplex virus
CPT: 87299; 87252
[VHSVSV] HSV 1&2 POOL SHELL VIAL ISO
[VHSVSVI] HSV SHELL VIAL + HSV CULTURE
SPECIMEN REQUIRED: Refrigerated specimen from any source
including vesicles or lesions