Sign in →

Test ID COVOO Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA Detection, Varies


Ordering Guidance


Due to the non-specific clinical presentation of COVID-19 during the early stages of illness, testing for other respiratory tract infections (eg, influenza) may be warranted.

 

For the most up to date COVID-19 epidemiology and testing recommendations, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html



Shipping Instructions


Ship specimens refrigerated (if less than 72 hours from collection to arrive at Mayo Clinic Laboratories [MCL]) or frozen (if 72 hours or more from collection to arrive at MCL).



Specimen Required


Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal (NP), oropharyngeal (OP ie, throat), nasal mid-turbinate, or nares/nasal swab

Supplies: Swab, Sterile Polyester (T507)

Container/Tube: Universal transport media, viral transport media, or equivalent (eg, Copan UTM-RT, BD VTM, MicroTest M4, M4-RT, M5)

Media should not contain guanidine thiocyanate (GTC).

For more information on acceptable transport media, see www.fda.gov/medical-devices/emergency-situations-medical-devices/faqs-diagnostic-testing-sars-cov-2

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen with a minimum of 1.5 mL (maximum 3 mL) of transport media

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect specimen by swabbing back and forth over nasal or pharyngeal mucosa surface to maximize recovery of cells.

2. NP and OP swab specimens may be combined at collection into a single vial of transport media but only one swab is required for analysis.

3. Swab must be placed into transport medium. Swab shaft should be broken or cut so that there is no obstruction to the sample or pressure on the media container cap.

4. Do not send in glass tubes, vacutainer tubes, or tubes with push caps.

5. Do not overfill with more than 3 mL total volume of media.

 

Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal aspirate or nasal washings

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: Minimum of 1.5 mL

Additional Information: Do not aliquot into viral transport media, glass tubes, vacutainer tubes, or tubes with push caps.


Useful For

Diagnosing COVID-19 illness due to SARS-CoV-2

 

Recommended only for patients who meet current clinical and/or epidemiologic criteria defined by federal, state, or local public health directives.

Method Name

Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Reporting Name

SARS Coronavirus 2 RNA, PCR, V

Specimen Type

Varies

Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Frozen (preferred) 14 days
  Refrigerated  72 hours

Reference Values

Undetected

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

87635

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
COVOO SARS Coronavirus 2 RNA, PCR, V 94500-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
CVOOS SARS-CoV-2 Specimen Source 31208-2
CRACE Patient Race 72826-1
CETHN Patient Ethnicity 69490-1
610013 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 94500-6
610016 Method Summary 62364-5