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Test Code MEPNL Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel, PCR, CSF

Important Note

Bacterial culture and Gram stain must always be ordered concurrently, using order code SFC “Spinal Fluid Culture”.

This test is not appropriate for the diagnosis of infections associated with CNS hardware/shunt infections.  For these cases, please order SFC “Spinal Fluid Culture” and other tests as appropriate. 

This panel does not test for TB or other mycobacteria, or for fungi other than Cryptococcus, so separate tests for AFB and/or fungal culture must be ordered if required.  

Testing for cell count, protein, and glucose must still be ordered separately.

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container

 

Volume

Preferred Volume: 1 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

2 hours

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 2 hours

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Skin decontamination with Chloraprep

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, if applicable to specimen type.

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. 
  • Specimens greater the 96 hours will be rejected.
  • Frozen specimens will be rejected
  • Rectal swabs and endoscopy specimens will be rejected.
  • Specimens in other commerical transport media (e.g. formalin, PVA fixative, ECOFIX, etc) will be rejected.

Reference Values

 

Analyte

Age

Sex

Reference Range
E. coli K1 serotype

All

All

Not Detected
S. agalactiae

All

All

Not Detected
L. monocytogenes

All

All

Not Detected
N. meningitidis

All

All

Not Detected
S. pneumoniae

All

All

Not Detected
H. influenza

All

All

Not Detected
CMV

All

All

Not Detected
enterovirus

All

All

Not Detected
HHV-6

All

All

Not Detected
HSV 1/2

All

All

Not Detected
human parechovirus

All

All

Not Detected
VZV

All

All

Not Detected
Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii

All

All

Not Detected

Critical Values

Analyte

 Result
Any target

Detected

Turnaround Time

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

STAT Turnaround Time: 2 hours

Routine Turnaround Time: 3 hours

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the diagnosis of specific agents of meningitis and/or encephalitis and results are meant to be used in conjunction with other clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data.
  • Rapid detection of meningitis and encephalitis caused by:
    • Escherichia coli K1 (K1 serotype only)
    • Haemophilus influenzae
    • Listeria monocytogenes
    • Neisseria meningitidis (encapsulated strains only)
    • Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Strep)
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae
    • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
    • Enterovirus
    • Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)
    • Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)
    • Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)
    • Human parechovirus
    • Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
    • Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii

CPT Codes

87483

LOINC Codes

82180-1

Methodology

BioFire® automated Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Synonyms/Keyword Search

LABMIMEPNL, ENTEROVIRUS, HSV, CRYPTOCOCCUS, CMV, HHV6, VZV

Last Review Date

09/26/2025