Ordering Recommendations

Available Stat

No

Performing Lab

Microbiology, Immunology, Mission Bay, Parnassus, and Mount Zion

Performed

Daily

Methodology

rRT-PCR

Reported

Inpatients/ED and high risk outpatients: < 24 hrs
Low-risk outpatients and outreach: < 72 hrs

Non-traditional sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times (see collection tab)

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Additional Information

Negative results do not preclude respiratory virus infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment or other management decisions.

Fact Sheet For Patients

Fact Sheet For Providers

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Please see 'Collection' tab for acceptable swab and media types.

Additional general information on COVID-19 laboratory testing can be found on our COVID-19 web page.

Synonyms

  • SARS-CoV-2019
  • nCoV-2019
  • coronavirus
  • COVID
  • P371

Sample Type

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • BAL, Endotracheal Aspirate
    • Note: These samples require special processing and may have extended turnaround time; Stat processing is not possible for these sample types
  • Other sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times

Collect

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • Other samples: sterile container

Remarks

Collection Instructions

Note:
Flocked tip swabs are preferred, however, non-flocked tip synthetic swabs (Dacron, Rayon) are acceptable. 

Swabs with cotton tips or wood shafts are NOT acceptable.

Acceptable media types include Universal Transport Medium (UTM), Viral Transport Medium (VTM), normal saline, Starswab media, Eswab, and DNA/RNA shield.

PBS is NOT acceptable.

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen (-70C): 1 month

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Unacceptable Conditions

BAL and Endotracheal aspirate samples should NOT be submitted in UTM.

Test Code

COV19

Sendout

If in-house capacity is exceeded, testing may be sent out to an external reference laboratory.

Performing Lab

Microbiology, Immunology, Mission Bay, Parnassus, and Mount Zion

Unacceptable Conditions

BAL and Endotracheal aspirate samples should NOT be submitted in UTM.

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen (-70C): 1 month

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Reference Interval

Not detected

Additional Information

Negative results do not preclude respiratory virus infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment or other management decisions.

Fact Sheet For Patients

Fact Sheet For Providers

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Please see 'Collection' tab for acceptable swab and media types.

Additional general information on COVID-19 laboratory testing can be found on our COVID-19 web page.

CPT Codes

87635

LDT or Modified FDA

Yes (LDT)

LOINC Codes

94310-0

Available Stat

No

Ordering Recommendations

Test Code

COV19

Performing Lab

Microbiology, Immunology, Mission Bay, Parnassus, and Mount Zion

Sendout

If in-house capacity is exceeded, testing may be sent out to an external reference laboratory.

Performed

Daily

Methodology

rRT-PCR

Remarks

Collection Instructions

Note:
Flocked tip swabs are preferred, however, non-flocked tip synthetic swabs (Dacron, Rayon) are acceptable. 

Swabs with cotton tips or wood shafts are NOT acceptable.

Acceptable media types include Universal Transport Medium (UTM), Viral Transport Medium (VTM), normal saline, Starswab media, Eswab, and DNA/RNA shield.

PBS is NOT acceptable.

Collect

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • Other samples: sterile container

Sample Type

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • BAL, Endotracheal Aspirate
    • Note: These samples require special processing and may have extended turnaround time; Stat processing is not possible for these sample types
  • Other sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times

Unacceptable Conditions

BAL and Endotracheal aspirate samples should NOT be submitted in UTM.

Reference Interval

Not detected

Synonyms

  • SARS-CoV-2019
  • nCoV-2019
  • coronavirus
  • COVID
  • P371

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen (-70C): 1 month

Reported

Inpatients/ED and high risk outpatients: < 24 hrs
Low-risk outpatients and outreach: < 72 hrs

Non-traditional sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times (see collection tab)

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Additional Information

Negative results do not preclude respiratory virus infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment or other management decisions.

Fact Sheet For Patients

Fact Sheet For Providers

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Please see 'Collection' tab for acceptable swab and media types.

Additional general information on COVID-19 laboratory testing can be found on our COVID-19 web page.

CPT Codes

87635

LDT or Modified FDA

Yes (LDT)

LOINC Codes

94310-0
Ordering

Ordering Recommendations

Available Stat

No

Performing Lab

Microbiology, Immunology, Mission Bay, Parnassus, and Mount Zion

Performed

Daily

Methodology

rRT-PCR

Reported

Inpatients/ED and high risk outpatients: < 24 hrs
Low-risk outpatients and outreach: < 72 hrs

Non-traditional sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times (see collection tab)

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Additional Information

Negative results do not preclude respiratory virus infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment or other management decisions.

Fact Sheet For Patients

Fact Sheet For Providers

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Please see 'Collection' tab for acceptable swab and media types.

Additional general information on COVID-19 laboratory testing can be found on our COVID-19 web page.

Synonyms

  • SARS-CoV-2019
  • nCoV-2019
  • coronavirus
  • COVID
  • P371
Collection

Sample Type

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • BAL, Endotracheal Aspirate
    • Note: These samples require special processing and may have extended turnaround time; Stat processing is not possible for these sample types
  • Other sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times

Collect

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • Other samples: sterile container

Remarks

Collection Instructions

Note:
Flocked tip swabs are preferred, however, non-flocked tip synthetic swabs (Dacron, Rayon) are acceptable. 

Swabs with cotton tips or wood shafts are NOT acceptable.

Acceptable media types include Universal Transport Medium (UTM), Viral Transport Medium (VTM), normal saline, Starswab media, Eswab, and DNA/RNA shield.

PBS is NOT acceptable.

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen (-70C): 1 month

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Unacceptable Conditions

BAL and Endotracheal aspirate samples should NOT be submitted in UTM.
Processing

Test Code

COV19

Sendout

If in-house capacity is exceeded, testing may be sent out to an external reference laboratory.

Performing Lab

Microbiology, Immunology, Mission Bay, Parnassus, and Mount Zion

Unacceptable Conditions

BAL and Endotracheal aspirate samples should NOT be submitted in UTM.

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen (-70C): 1 month

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated
Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

Not detected

Additional Information

Negative results do not preclude respiratory virus infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment or other management decisions.

Fact Sheet For Patients

Fact Sheet For Providers

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Please see 'Collection' tab for acceptable swab and media types.

Additional general information on COVID-19 laboratory testing can be found on our COVID-19 web page.
Administrative

CPT Codes

87635

LDT or Modified FDA

Yes (LDT)

LOINC Codes

94310-0
Complete View

Available Stat

No

Ordering Recommendations

Test Code

COV19

Performing Lab

Microbiology, Immunology, Mission Bay, Parnassus, and Mount Zion

Sendout

If in-house capacity is exceeded, testing may be sent out to an external reference laboratory.

Performed

Daily

Methodology

rRT-PCR

Remarks

Collection Instructions

Note:
Flocked tip swabs are preferred, however, non-flocked tip synthetic swabs (Dacron, Rayon) are acceptable. 

Swabs with cotton tips or wood shafts are NOT acceptable.

Acceptable media types include Universal Transport Medium (UTM), Viral Transport Medium (VTM), normal saline, Starswab media, Eswab, and DNA/RNA shield.

PBS is NOT acceptable.

Collect

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • Other samples: sterile container

Sample Type

  • Combined Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal or Oropharyngeal/Mid-turbinate nasal Swab in Transport Media, preferred
  • Single Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal Swab in Transport Media, acceptable
  • Self Collected Bilateral Anterior Nares Swab in Transport Media, accaptable (Collection must be directly observed by a healthcare provider in a clinical environment or performed by the patient unobserved after instructions are provided. Accurate results are dependent on correct sample collection, and providers should use medical judgement to determine the appropriate sampling method for their patients)
  • BAL, Endotracheal Aspirate
    • Note: These samples require special processing and may have extended turnaround time; Stat processing is not possible for these sample types
  • Other sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times

Unacceptable Conditions

BAL and Endotracheal aspirate samples should NOT be submitted in UTM.

Reference Interval

Not detected

Synonyms

  • SARS-CoV-2019
  • nCoV-2019
  • coronavirus
  • COVID
  • P371

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen (-70C): 1 month

Reported

Inpatients/ED and high risk outpatients: < 24 hrs
Low-risk outpatients and outreach: < 72 hrs

Non-traditional sample types require pre-approval and may have extended turnaround times (see collection tab)

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Additional Information

Negative results do not preclude respiratory virus infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment or other management decisions.

Fact Sheet For Patients

Fact Sheet For Providers

Please DO NOT call the laboratory for results. UCSF results will be released to APeX as soon as they are available. For outside clients, please contact your internal Clinical Laboratory, as results will be faxed directly to them.

Please see 'Collection' tab for acceptable swab and media types.

Additional general information on COVID-19 laboratory testing can be found on our COVID-19 web page.

CPT Codes

87635

LDT or Modified FDA

Yes (LDT)

LOINC Codes

94310-0