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Test Code IRCP SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Influenza, and RSV by PCR (NAAT)

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal

Preferred Specimen: Universal Viral Transport (UVT)

Other Acceptable specimens: ESwab

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

48 hours

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 7 days

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: 

 

Nasopharyngeal swab in UVT:

  1. Tilt the patient’s head back 70 degrees. Insert the flocked swab through the nostril parallel to the palate (not upwards) until resistance is encountered and the swab reaches a depth equal to the distance from the nostrils to the outer opening of the ear.
  2. Rotate the flocked swab 2-3 times and hold the swab in place for 5-10 seconds to ensure maximum absorbency. Swab both nostrils with the same swab.
  3. Put the swab in the viral transport media and break the shaft at the designated breakpoint. Tightly close the lid.

Nasopharyngeal ESwab:

  1. Tilt the patient’s head back 70 degrees. Insert the flocked swab into the nasal passage until a slight resistance met at the turbinates (about 2 cm into the nostril).
  2. Rotate the flocked swab 2-3 times and hold the swab in place for 5-10 seconds to ensure maximum absorbency. Swab both nostrils with the same swab.
  3. Put the swab in the transport media and break the shaft at the designated breakpoint. Tightly close the lid.


Specimen Transport: Immediate

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimens prior to transport.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, incorrect collection container, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 

Reference Values

 

Analyte

Age

Sex

Reference Range
SARS-CoV-2

All

All

Not Detected

Flu A

 All All Not Detected
Flu B All All Not Detected
RSV All All Not Detected

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: not available

Routine Turnaround Time: 3 hours

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19, influenza and/or RSV infections if used in conjunction with other clinical and epidemiological information, and laboratory findings.
  • Not intended to detect influenza C.

CPT Codes

87637 

LOINC Codes

95941-1

Methodology

Cepheid GeneXpert Xpress automated multiplexed real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Synonyms/Keyword Search

COVID, COVID-19, FLU, RSV

Last Review Date

10/06/2025