WestPac Labs – Influenza A/B and RSV

Test Name	Influenza A/B and RSV
Test Code	SRU455
CPT Code(s)	87631
Preferred Requirement(s)	Nasopharyngeal Swab in Viral/Universal Transport Media or equivalent
Unacceptable Specimens	Ambient specimens. Specimens not in universal or viral transport media. Calcium alginate swabs. Swabs with wooden shafts. Respiratory aspirates.
Preferred Transport Temperature	Frozen: 2 Weeks
Special Instructions	Nasopharyngeal Swab Collection Procedure: 1) Seat the patient comfortably and tilt the head back. 2) Insert a nasal speculum, if available. 3) Insert a nasopharyngeal swab through the nares until resistance is met due to contact with the nasopharynx. 4) Rotate the swab gently and maintain contact with the nasopharynx for 20-30 seconds or until coughing is induced. 5) Once a swab specimen is collected, it should be placed immediately into the transport vial where it comes in to contact with transport media. Transport media must be used because the swab tip is small and vulnerable to drying. 6) Transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when specimens are refrigerated at 2-8°C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit.
Methodology	Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Performing Location	Sonic Reference Laboratory
Days Performed	Sun – Sat