April 25 - 28, 2010

Clinical Virology Symposium
26th Annual Meeting

Daytona Beach, Florida

CMV Total

Immucor Inc. has announced a package insert change for the CMV Total assay. The specimen collection and preparation section of the package insert now states, “Do not use specimens drawn into tubes containing neutral gel separators. False positive results may occur with such samples.” The preferred collection tube for the CMV Total test is plasma (EDTA).

The CMV IgG and CMV IgM clinical tests that clients may order as a reflex test from a positive CMV Total antibody test require serum.

The specimen requirements for the CMV total will be updated in the LabCorp computer system on March 15, 2010. Please note:

·            There will be no change for clients using the ViroMed Direct Shipping System, as the collection tubes contained in the direct shipping system should be adequate.

·            For clients ordering the CMV Total with reflex and not using the ViroMed Direct Shipping System, please call ViroMed Client Services to order your direct shippers. Testing will require both a plasma tube (EDTA) and a serum tube.

A copy of the updated donor screening tests with approved indications for HCT/P donors will be available on the Web site on March 15, 2010.

HTLV-I/II

ViroMed Laboratories has been informed by Abbott Diagnostics that the kit will be discontinued in 2009.

Effective January 5, 2010:

·            The HTLV-I/II donor screening test performed at ViroMed Laboratories will be the ABBOTT PRISM HTLV-I/HTLV-II assay (Prism).  This assay is an in vitro chemiluminescent immunoassay (ChLIA) for the qualitative detection of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus Type I and/or human T-lymphotropic virus Type II (anti-HTLV-I/ HTLV-II) in human serum and plasma specimens. This assay is a cleared living donor screening test with an approved indication for testing individual human donors. 

·            There will be no change to the test number, CPT code, or result reporting.

·            Specimen volume requirements for the HTLV I/II test performed on the Prism will be increased to a minimum of 1.5 mL

Additional Information:

·            We anticipate no disruption to customers’ specimen collection when using a ViroMed Direct Shipping system.  The collection tubes contained in the kit should provide adequate volume to perform donor testing currently being requested with the use of the ViroMed shipping system. 

·            A copy of the updated donor screening tests with approved indications for HCT/P donors will be available on the Web site on January 5, 2010.

xTAG™ Respiratory Viral Panel

ViroMed will begin performing the new Luminex xTag™ Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) on February 16, 2009. The RVP is a diagnostic test for the detection of multiple viral strains and subtypes including:

- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A and B

- Influenza A and B

- Parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3

- Metapneumovirus

- Rhinovirus

- Adenovirus

The xTag™ Respiratory Viral Panel is FDA cleared with excellent sensitivity, including 96.4% for Influenza A and 100% for RSV A&B.

For more information, please contact ViroMed Client Services at 800-582-0077 or your LabCorp representative.

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