Test Overview
Test Methodology

Cell Culture

Test Usage

Diagnosing viral infections.

Reference Range *

Negative. If positive, virus is identified.

Test Limitations

Negative results may be seen in a number of situations including absence of viral disease, inability of the virus to grow in culture (examples of organisms not detected by this culture test include Epstein-Barr virus, rubella virus, papilloma, and Norwalk virus), and nonviable organisms submitted.

Test Details
Days Set Up
Daily
Analytic Time

16 days

Soft Order Code
VIRNR
MiChart Code
Viral Culture, Non respiratory (Sendout)
Synonyms
  • Cytomegalovirus Culture
  • Cytomegalovirus shell vial
  • CMV Culture
  • Adenovirus Culture
  • Enterovirus Culture
  • VZV Culture
  • Varicella zoster Culture
  • CVCULT
  • Herpes simplex shell vial
  • HSV Culture
  • CMVCULT
  • Herpes simplex Culture
  • VIRAL CULTURE INCLUDING CMV
  • VCULT
  • VIRNR
Laboratory
Sendout
Reference Laboratory
Mayo VIRNR
Section
Special Testing
Specimen Requirements
Collection

SWAB: collect ocular, rectal, dermal, or oral swab specimen using dacron or rayon swab with an aluminum or plastic shaft; do not use swab with calcium alginate tip or wooden shaft. Place swab in in M4RT, M4 or M5 transport and refrigerate. FLUID: place 1 mL CSF or other body fluid in a sterile tube or container and refrigerate. TISSUE: place tissue in a sterile container with 1-2 mL of sterile saline or M4RT (or M4, or M5) transport media and refrigerate. STOOL: Place 5-10 g stool in a sterile container and refrigerate. Dermal and oral specimens are only acceptable for enterovirus culture: for dermal or oral specimens for hand-foot-and-mouth disease or enterovirus, clearly indicate "enterovirus" on request.

Alternate Specimen
M4RT is preferred transport for Mayo. But they will accept in some cases M4, or M5. Please call sendouts to inquire.
Rejection Criteria
Genital, synovial fluid, wound swab or tissue (includes pus, drainage, or abscess fluid) specimens are not acceptable for viral culture.
Red Top Tube
Storage Temperature
Refrigerated
Additional Information

All routine viral cultures are inoculated into cell culture tubes for viral detection. Most common specimens received for routine testing include body fluid, ocular, rectal, spinal fluid, and stool. A rapid (16-hour incubation) shell vial cell culture assay will be inoculated when specimens are designated for herpes simplex virus (HSV) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) detection or as appropriate for source indicated. Test sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories.

Billing
CPT Code
87252
LOINC
6584-7
NY State Approved
No