HTLV Antibodies

Description: 
Qualitative chemiluminescent immuno-assay for HTLV I and HTLV II antibodies. Samples which are positive or equivocal will be sent to the reference laboratory for confirmation.
Clinical details: 
HTLV associated diseases include adult T-cell leukaemia (ATLL), HTLV associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM / TSP), HTLV uveitis and HTLV associated infective dermatitis. These complications only occur in the minority of infected individuals (~5%). High prevalence areas are the Caribbean, Japan, South America and parts of Africa. Transmission is predominantly by breastfeeding in high prevalence countries but is also associated with injecting drug use, sexual routes and blood transfusion.
Related condition or disease: 
HTLV-I, HTLV-II, adult T-cell leukaemia (ATLL), HTLV associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM / TSP), HTLV uveitis and HTLV associated infective dermatitis
Synonyms or keywords: 
HTLV, adult T-cell leukaemia (ATLL), HTLV associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM / TSP), HTLV uveitis, HTLV associated infective dermatitis
Department: 
Infection Sciences Department
Location: 
St Thomas' Hospital
Sample type and Volume required: 
2.5 – 5ml Yellow Top Serum Separation Tube (SST) Clotted Blood (for serum).
Turnaround time: 
3 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). To prevent sample haemolysis please store samples in refrigerator if a delay in sending samples to CSR is unavoidable.
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: 17/11/2017