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Test Code BRBST Tickborne Bacterial, PCR and Sequencing, Blood


Necessary Information


Specimen source is required.



Specimen Required


Container/Tube:

Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA)

Acceptable: Royal blue top (EDTA), pink top (EDTA), or sterile vial containing EDTA-derived aliquot

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: If not submitting in original vial, mix well before transferring to a sterile vial.


Useful For

Detecting and identifying pathogenic tickborne bacteria infecting normally sterile whole blood

 

Potential detection of bacteria that cause similar illnesses to tickborne infections

 

This test should not be used as first tier test. It should only be used when routine testing is negative.

 

This test is not recommended as a test of cure because nucleic acids may persist for long periods of time after successful treatment.

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
SPID2 Specimen Identification by PCR No, (Bill Only) No

Testing Algorithm

For information see Acute Tickborne Disease Algorithm.

Method Name

16S Ribosomal RNA Gene Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Reporting Name

Tickborne Bacterial PCR+Sequence, B

Specimen Type

Whole Blood EDTA

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole Blood EDTA Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Clinical Information

The target population is patients with suspected, but undiagnosed, tickborne bacterial infection involving normally sterile whole blood. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a portion of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene followed by next-generation sequencing of the amplified product can be used to detect tickborne bacterial nucleic acids in such situations, enabling a diagnosis. Ideal specimens are those that specific tickborne PCR tests or blood culture have not resulted in identifiable causative infectious agents. Due to the complexity of this test, the suspected tickborne disease testing algorithm will reflex to this assay only if specific-PCR tests are negative. The test is designed to identify mono-bacterial or poly-bacterial tickborne infections.

Reference Values

No tickborne bacterial DNA detected

Interpretation

A positive broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing result indicates that tickborne bacterial nucleic acid was detected.

 

A negative sequencing result indicates the absence of detectable bacterial nucleic acids in the specimen but does not rule out false-negative results that may occur due to sampling error, sequence variability underlying the primers, the presence of bacterial nucleic acids in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay, or inhibition of PCR amplification. If testing shows evidence of PCR inhibition, it will be repeated. If inhibition is again detected, the result will be reported as "PCR inhibition present."

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

14 to 28 days

Specimen Retention Time

7 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

87801-Broad Range Bacterial PCR and Sequencing

87798-Specimen Identification by PCR (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
BRBST Tickborne Bacterial PCR+Sequence, B 76575-0

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
BRBST Tickborne Bacterial PCR+Sequence, B 76575-0