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Alphabetical Index
Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel by PCR (8000101170)
Test Mnemonic:

MEP
Specimen Requirements:

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via lumbar puncture. A routine bacterial culture must be performed on the specimen.
Test Included:

Panel for the detection of:

  • Escherichia coli K1
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Neisseria meningitidis
  • Streptococcus agalactiae
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Enterovirus (EV)
  • Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)
  • Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)
  • Human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6)
  • Human parechovirus (HPEV)
  • Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
  • Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii
Collection:

Standard collection and handling procedures used to collect CSF via lumbar puncture is appropriate.
Container:

Sterile container
Minimum Volume:

0.5 mL
Storage/Transport:

The specimen should be processed and tested as soon as possible.
Stability:

The specimen is stable for up to 1 day when stored at room temperature or up to 7 days when stored at 2 - 8C.
Causes for Rejection:

Specimens must meet criteria set forth in the Laboratory Services Specimen Labeling and Requests for Testing policy.

Only specimen collected via lumbar puncture are acceptable.

Grossly hemolyzed and/or clotted specimens are not acceptable for testing.

Specimens with insufficient quantity for testing.
Specimen Preparation:

The CSF should NOT be centrifuged.
Methodology:

Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Performed:

Available 24 hours a day
Lab:

Clinical Microbiology
Turnaround Time:

4 hours
Reference Range:

Negative
CPT 4 Code:

87483
Note:

A routine bacterial culture must be performed on the specimen.
Synonyms:

Meningitis, Encephalitis, Escherichia coli K1, K1, Haemophilus influenzae, HIB, Haemophilus, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria, Neisseria meningitidis, mening, Streptococcus agalactiae, Group B, Group B Strep, GBS, Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumo, Cytomegalovirus, CMV, Enterovirus, EV, Herpes simplex virus 1, Herpes simplex virus 2, HSV, Human herpesvirus 6, HHV, Human parechovirus, HPEV, Varicella zoster virus, VZV, Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, Cryptococcus, Crypto
Patient Preparation :

Standard collection and handling procedures used to collect CSF via lumbar puncture is appropriate.
Clinical Indication:

This test is used to detect multiple bacteria, viruses, and yeast directly from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens obtained via lumbar puncture from individuals with signs and/or symptoms of meningitis and/or encephalitis. The following bacteria, viruses, and yeast are identified: Escherichia coli K1, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitidis (encapsulated), Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus, Enterovirus, Herpes simplex virus 1, Herpes simplex virus 2, Human herpes virus 6, Human parechovirus, Varicella zoster virus, and Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii.
Effective Date: 03/25/2021
Reviewed By/Date: Loeffelholz, Michael - 03/06/2018
Approved By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 02/14/2024
When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.

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