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24849 BK Virus PCR, Qnt, Plasma (QBK)

BK Virus PCR, Qnt, Plasma (QBK)
Test Code: QBKSO
Synonyms/Keywords
BK (polyoma) virus, BKV, BKV DNA, BKV Quant, BKV Quantitative DNA, Polyomavirus, QBK
Useful For
As a prospective and diagnostic marker for the development of nephropathy in renal transplant recipients​
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Plasma EDTA​​EDTA Lavender Top Tube (LTT)​​1 mL​0.3 mL ​
Collection Processing Instructions
​Separate plasma within 24 hours of collection
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Plasma EDTA ​ ​Refrigerated (preferred) ​14 days
​Frozen ​14 days
Rejection Criteria
Hemolysis Mild OK; Gross reject
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Medical Laboratories Monday through Saturday​​2 days
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/DNA Probe Hybridization
(PCR is utilized pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.)​
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Test Information
Polyomaviruses are small (45 nm, approximately 5,000 bp), DNA-containing viruses and include 3 closely related viruses of clinical significance, SV-40, JC virus (JCV), and BK virus (BKV). SV-40 naturally infects rhesus monkeys but can infect humans, while BKV and JCV cause productive infection only in humans.(1,2) Acquisition of BKV begins in infancy. Serological evidence of infection by BKV is present in 37% of individuals by 5 years of age and over 80% of adolescents.
  
BKV is an important cause of interstitial nephritis and BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in recipients of kidney transplants. Up to 5% of renal allograft recipients can be effected about 40 weeks (range 6-150) post-transplantation.(3) Quantitative PCR analysis of BKV DNA in the plasma is the most widely used blood test for the laboratory diagnosis of BKV-associated nephropathy. Importantly, the presence of BKV DNA in blood reflects the dynamics of the disease: the conversion of plasma from negative to positive for BKV DNA after transplantation, the presence of DNA in plasma in conjunction with the persistence of nephropathy, and its disappearance from plasma after the reduction of immunosuppressive therapy.(4-8) The presence of BKV DNA in plasma at levels > or =10,000 copies BKV DNA/mL may correlate with an increased risk of BKVAN with this assay. Furthermore, the trend of viral DNA quantitation (eg, increasing, decreasing) may be helpful in predicting the onset of BKVAN.
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
​Mayo Medical Laboratories ​None detected
Interpretation
Increasing copy levels of BK virus (BKV) DNA in serial specimens may indicate possible BKV- associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in kidney transplant patients.   
 
Viral loads >10,000 copies/mL in plasma may also indicate a risk for BKVAN.
                                   
This assay does not cross react with other polyomaviruses, including JC virus and SV-40.
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​87799 ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
BK (polyoma) virus, BKV, BKV DNA, BKV Quant, BKV Quantitative DNA, Polyomavirus, QBK
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​BK Virus Molecular Detection, Qnt, Plasma
​Cerner ​None
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Plasma EDTA​​EDTA Lavender Top Tube (LTT)​​1 mL​0.3 mL ​
Collection Processing
​Separate plasma within 24 hours of collection
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Plasma EDTA ​ ​Refrigerated (preferred) ​14 days
​Frozen ​14 days
Rejection Criteria
Hemolysis Mild OK; Gross reject
Useful For
As a prospective and diagnostic marker for the development of nephropathy in renal transplant recipients​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
​Mayo Medical Laboratories ​None detected
Interpretation
Increasing copy levels of BK virus (BKV) DNA in serial specimens may indicate possible BKV- associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in kidney transplant patients.   
 
Viral loads >10,000 copies/mL in plasma may also indicate a risk for BKVAN.
                                   
This assay does not cross react with other polyomaviruses, including JC virus and SV-40.
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Medical Laboratories Monday through Saturday​​2 days
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/DNA Probe Hybridization
(PCR is utilized pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.)​
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​87799 ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.