Methodology
Direct Fluorescent Antibody Stain (DFA)
Synonyms
HSV
Specimen Type
See Collection Instructions
Performing Lab
Quest Diagnostics San Juan Capistrano
Epic ID
LAB07545
Lab Test Days
Monday-Saturday
Standard TAT
1-2 Days
Collection Information
Specimen Required
1 Swab mucosal membrane or skin lesion (vesicle)
Container Type
Viral Media
Collection Instructions
Air-dried smear of specimen on 2 glass slides are also acceptable. Collect specimen on swab and to maintain optimum viability, place swab into VCM or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8 C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. If there will be a long delay before processing, specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70 C or colder and transported frozen. Storage or transport at -20 C is not acceptable.
Processing Information - Lab Use Only
Transport Temperature
Refrigerate-OK/Frozen-OK
Specimen Stability
Room Temp: Unacceptable (7 Days for slides); Refrigerated: 4 Days (7 Days for slides); Frozen: 30 Days (Unacceptable for slides)
Rejection Criteria
Received in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media; Dry swabs; Specimen in formalin or other fixatives; Raw (unpreserved) specimens
Processing Instructions
Indicate source in comments, on specimen and on batch sheet.
CPT Codes
87273, 87274
Revised
09-27-22