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HelpTest Code LAB8902 Tropheryma whipplei, Molecular Detection, PCR, Blood
Additional Codes
WHIPB
Useful For
Aiding in the diagnosis of Whipple disease, especially for identifying inconclusive or suspicious cases, using whole blood specimens
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Specimen Type
Whole Blood EDTASpecimen Required
The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Tropheryma whipplei DNA is unlikely.
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: Send whole blood specimen in original tube (preferred)
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Blood EDTA | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
| Ambient | 7 days | ||
| Frozen | 7 days |
On-campus collections: Tube to 99 or deliver to University Extension Hospital Room EH318
Send specimen in original tube, Refrigerated
Off-campus collections: DO NOT SPIN! DO NOT SHARE! SEND ORIGINAL TUBE
Specimen to be stored/transported Refrigerated
Reference Values
Not applicable
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
CPT Code Information
87798
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| WHIPB | Tropheryma whipplei PCR, B | 97205-9 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| SRC89 | Specimen Source | 31208-2 |
| 56064 | Tropheryma whipplei PCR, B, Result | 97205-9 |
Interpretation
A positive result indicates the presence of Tropheryma whipplei DNA.
A negative result indicates the absence of detectable T whipplei DNA, but it does not negate the presence of the organism and may occur due to inhibition of polymerase chain reaction, sequence variability underlying primers or probes, or the presence of T whipplei DNA in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.
Method Description
Nucleic acid is extracted from all specimens using the MagNA Pure extraction system. The resulting nucleic acid is tested for the presence of the target DNA of Tropheryma whipplei using the LightCycler real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The instrument amplifies and continuously monitors the development of target nucleic acid using fluorescent resonance emission technology after each cycle. Analysis of the PCR amplification and probe melting curves is accomplished through the use of the LightCycler software.(Sloan LM, Rosenblatt JE, Cockerill FR III: Detection of Tropheryma whipplei DNA in clinical specimens by LightCycler real-time PCR. J Clin Microobiol. 2005;43:3516-3518; Geibdorfer W, Moter A, Bogdan C: Tropheryma whipplei, In: Carroll K, Pfaller M, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:1189-1197)
Report Available
2 to 7 daysSpecimen Retention Time
7 daysReject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Method Name
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:
-Microbiology Test Request (T244)
Testing Algorithm
For more information see Infective Endocarditis: Diagnostic Testing for Identification of Microbiological Etiology