Category
Molecular Genetic Pathology & Cytogenetics
Sub Category
Infectious Disease
Synonym/Aliases
Covid-19 Rt-pcr
Abbreviations
Covid PCR
Type
Individual Test
Results
RESULTS READY WITHIN 24 HOURS
Method
REAL TIME REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION PCR (RT-PCR) FOR DETECTION OF SARS-CoV-2 NUCLEIC ACID (RNA).
Temp
REFRIGERATED, 2-8ºC (48-72 HOURS); FROZEN (>72 HOURS)
Setup
DAILY
Components Parameters
- N/A
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. SARS-CoV-2 CASE INVESTIGATION FORM WILL NEED TO BE FILLED OUT IN ENTIRETY TO FULFILL MOH/ NATIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Patient preparation
- N/A
Sample type
NASOPHARYNGEAL (NP) &/ OR OROPHARYNGEAL (OP) SWAB COLLECTED USING DRAYON, RAYON OR POLYESTER FIBRE SWABS, PLACED IN VIRAL TRANSPORT MEDIA (VTM) & WELL CAPPED. SAMPLES MUST BE LABELED WITH PATIENT NAME, OTHER UNIQUE IDENTIFIER, SAMPLE TYPE(S) & COLLECTION DATE. THEY MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A LAB REQUISITION AND A LEGIBLE AND FULLY FILLED COVID-19 CASE INVESTIGATION FORM. SAMPLES ARE TRIPLE PACKAGED AND IMMEDIATELY DELIVERED/ TRANSPORTED WITH FROZEN GEL PACKS.
Container/ preservative
NP &/ OR OP SWAB IN VIRAL TRANSPORT MEDIUM (VTM).
Sample volume
- N/A
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CALCIUM AGINATE, COTTON SWABS OR SWABS WITH WOODEN STICKS CAN INHIBIT PCR RESULTING IN FALSE NEGATIVE RESULTS. SAMPLES COLLECTED USING THESE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED/ PROCESSED. SAMPLES WITHOUT A COMPLETED COVID-19 CASE INVESTIGATION FORM WILL BE PUT ON HOLD AND NOT PROCESSED. INFORMATION CAPTURED ON THE FORM IS MANDATORY WHEN REPORTING TO A) THE NATIONAL COMPILATION CENTRE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAP 242 (PUBLIC HEALTH) REGULATIONS SINCE COVID-19 IS A NOTIFIABLE ILLNESS B) THE panaBIOS TRUSTED TRAVEL DATABASE WHICH GENERATES TRUSTED TRAVEL (TT) CODES & CERTIFICATES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS.
Reference intervals
INTERPRETIVE DATA IS PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
COVID 19 DIAGNOSIS, SCREENING
Test Limitations / Confounders
FALSE NEGATIVE RESULTS MAY ARISE E.G. IF: 1) YOU HAVE BEEN TESTED TOO EARLY IN THE ILLNESS. A REPEAT TEST LATER MAY BE POSITIVE. 2) YOU HAVE BEEN TESTED TOO LATE IN THE ILLNESS (PARTIAL RECOVERY PHASE) 3) THE SAMPLE COLLECTION WAS INADEQUATE THEREFORE THERE IS AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TESTING MATERIAL. 4) THERE ARE MUTATIONS IN TARGET GENES. 5) SAMPLES ARE NOT PROPERLY TRANSPORTED OR STORED. FALSE POSITIVE RESULTS (DETECTION OF SARS-COV-2 WHEN ONE DOES NOT HAVE COVID-19) MAY ARISE IF THERE IS CONTAMINATION DURING SAMPLE COLLECTION – SWAB TOUCHES A CONTAMINATED SURFACE.