Culture, Viral, Non-Respiratory, Conventional, Body Fluids or Tissue
Also known as: Viral Culture, Body Fluid, Tissue, Virus Isolation, Body Fluid or Tissue
Use
Used to isolate and identify viral pathogens—including Adenovirus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2, Enterovirus, and Varicella Zoster Virus—from sterile, non-respiratory body fluids or tissues, aiding in diagnosis of viral infections when molecular methods may not be appropriate or available. This conventional viral culture facilitates direct virus recovery and identification.
Special Instructions
Preferred specimens include 2 mL (1 mL minimum) sterile body fluids or up to as much tissue as possible in viral transport medium (VCM or equivalent). For sterile body fluids, mix equal volume with transport medium. Tissue/biopsy should be in saline in sterile screw‑cap container; avoid fixatives. CSF without transport medium—PCR is preferred for HSV and Enterovirus. Reject specimens such as swabs with wooden shafts, calcium alginate, dry swabs, tissue in formalin, blood in EDTA, semen, sputum, respiratory specimens, urine, skin or mucosal swabs.
Limitations
Not every specimen type is acceptable (e.g., respiratory samples, fixed tissues, certain swabs, blood in EDTA). CSF for HSV and Enterovirus is better tested via PCR. Conventional culture may have longer turnaround and lower sensitivity than molecular methods.
Methodology
Other
Biomarkers
Result Turnaround Time
Not provided.
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Body Fluid
Volume
2 mL (1 mL minimum)
Minimum Volume
Not provided
Container
VCM (green cap) tube or equivalent viral transport media; or sterile screw‑cap container
Collection Instructions
For body fluids: mix equal volume with transport medium. Tissue: place in saline in screw‑cap container; no fixative.
Causes for Rejection
Wooden shaft or calcium alginate swabs; dry swabs; transwabs or other transport medium; tissue in formalin or other fixatives; whole blood; bone marrow in EDTA; semen; sputum; respiratory specimens; urine; conjunctival, oral, genital, skin lesion swabs.
Other tests from different labs that may be relevant