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Laboratory:

Clinical Microbiology

Test Name:

PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECI PCR

Test Code: PJPP

Clinical Information:

Test Indications:
Atypical pneumonia, suspected by clinical and radiological signs, in an immunocompromised patient. In HIV positive patients, CD4 counts should be below 200 to warrant testing. In patients without HIV infection, testing is appropriate for patients with long term moderate to high dose glucocorticoid use, defects in cell-mediated immunity, other immunosuppressive medications, cancer (particularly hematologic malignancy), hematopoietic cell or solid organ transplantation, organ rejection, treatment for certain inflammatory conditions (particularly rheumatologic diseases), primary immunodeficiencies (eg, severe combined immunodeficiency), and severe malnutrition.

Recommendations:
A fresh unpreserved bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial washing obtained by bronchoscopy must be obtained for this test. Sputa are not acceptable. If cytology is also required to investigate malignancy, a separate specimen will need to be submitted in accordance with Cytology requirements.

Patient preparation instructions:
Accurate patient identification must be made prior to sample collection.
Samples and requisitions must be labeled/completed in accordance with the Shared Health Specimen Acceptance Policy.

Collection Devices:

Preferred Device:

1 - Sterile Specimen Container (100 mL)

Sterile Specimen Container (100 mL)
Manufacturer:

Catalogue #:

- Specimens received in other collection devices will not be processed.

Specimen Required:

Adult and Pediatric: ≥10 mL Bronchoalveolar lavage or Bronchial washings
Submit specimen to laboratory within 2 hours if stored at room temperature.
May be stored up to 48 hours at 2-8ºC.

Referral:

Requisition:

_SH Microbiology - Provincial Requisition (R250-10-06)

Reference Values:

Negative for Pneumocystis jiroveci DNA.

Availability:

Testing is performed Monday, Wednesday and Friday