Epstein-barr virus PCR

Description: 
Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay for the quantitative detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from whole blood and plasma (on request) and the qualitative detection of EBV in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and vitreous eye fluid. This assay is routinely available Mon and Thurs.
Clinical details: 
Detection and monitoring of reactivating EBV in patients who are undergoing immunosuppression following organ or bone marrow transplant or secondary to chemotherapy. CSF testing from immunocompetent host with meningitis or encephalitis associated with primary EBV infection. CSF from patient with advanced HIV infection and CNS symptoms/ suspected lymphoma.
Related condition or disease: 
- Glandular fever /monocuclear syndrome
- Infectious mononucleosis
- meningitis/encephalitis
- Neutropenia/lymphocytosis
- Jaundice
- hepatitis
- hepatomegaly/splenomegaly
- spontaneous rupture of spleen
- chronic active EBV infection
- Burkitt's lymphoma
- nasopharyngeal carcinoma
- AIDS-associated lymphoma
- primary CNS lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Post-transplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD)
Reference range: 

Not applicable

Synonyms or keywords: 
- Glandular fever, - Infectious mononucleosis, - meningitis/encephalitis, - PTLD
Units: 
Quantitative - IU/ml, Qualitative - Detected/Not Detected
Department: 
Infection Sciences Department
Location: 
St Thomas' Hospital
Sample type and Volume required: 
Purple topped EDTA blood tube for whole blood and plasma. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and vitreous eye fluid to be collected in sterile universal container with no additives. The minimum volume for BAL, CSF and vitreous fluid is 0.5ml.
Turnaround time: 
7 working days
Criteria for acceptance / rejections of sample
Storage and transport: 
Place labelled sample in a sealed sample bag and send to Central Specimen Reception (CSR). Samples should be sent to CSR promptly as the sensitivity of assays that detect DNA depend on sample quality/integrity. Please store samples in a refrigerator if there is a delay in sending samples to CSR.
Contacts:
Infection Sciences Department at St Thomas' Hospital
020 7188 8008
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 5th Floor
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Core opening hours: Monday-Friday 0900-1730


For clinical advice or interpretation of results, please contact the laboratory in the first instance.
Laboratory: 
Virology Laboratory at St Thomas'

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Last updated: 06/10/2023