HTLV I/II Antibodies with Reflex to Confirmation
Test Codes
EPIC: LAB6059, Beaker: XHTLV, Mayo: HTLVI
Department
Send Outs
Instructions
Patients with positive results by ELISA will reflex to confirmation by Western Blot.
Specimen Collection Criteria
Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube
Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.
Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation
Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.
Preparation for Courier Transport
Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.6 mL)
Rejection Criteria
- Grossly hemolyzed specimen
- Grossly lipemic specimen
- Grossly icteric specimen
- Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.
In-Lab Processing
Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.
Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.6 mL)
Storage
Specimen Stability for Testing:
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 28 days
Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:
Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.
Laboratory
Sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester, MN.
Performed
Monday – Friday.
Results available in 2-5 days.
Reference Range
Negative.
Test Methodology
Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA).
Interpretation
By report.
Clinical Disease
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1 (HTLV-1) has been associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and may play an indirect role in the pathocenesis of some B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases. HTLV-1 has also been associated with chronic neurologic diseases including tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) and HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM). (1)
Disease Reporting
This is a reportable infection and positive results will be reported to the Oakland County Health Department. For more information on reportable diseases, contact the Epidemiology Department at (248) 551-4040.
Epidemiology
HTLV-1 is primarily endemic in southwestern Japan and the Caribbean, however, parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South America also have significant seroprevalence. Increased seropositivity has been observed in the Southwestern United States, the United Kingdom, and in countries with large Caribbean populations. Approximately 0.1% of males and 0.2% of females infected at childhood develop ATL as adults. HTLV-1 appears to have very little genetic variability. (1)
Incubation Period
10-30 years. Infection is assumed to be lifelong. HTLV-1 associated myelopathy sometimes develops just a few years after infection. (1)
Transmission
HTLV-1 is poorly contagious and transmission can occur via blood transfusion, contaminated needles, sexual contact, and from mother to child through breast feeding. (1)
Reference
- Wiedbrauk D, Johnston SLG. Manual of Clinical Virology, Raven Press, New York, NY, 1993.
CPT Codes
86790, (86689 if indicated for confirmation).
Contacts
Send Outs Laboratory – RO
248-551-9045
Name: Send Outs Laboratory – RO
Location:
Phone: 248-551-9045
Last Updated
10/5/2023
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