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Human Polyomavirus, Provincial Laboratory (BK Virus only)

Source Urine or Blood
Mnemonic Urine: BKVUR

Blood: BKVBL
Specimen Requirements

Urine:
Submit specimen in original sterile collection container.  At least 2 mL early morning first-void urine sample is preferred.  Random urine collection is also acceptable. 

Blood: 
2 x 4 mL EDTA tubes, whole blood.

Specimen Handling Urine:
Aliquot urine into Vacutainer tube, using Urine Transfer Straw Kit, before transporting. Keep urines refrigerated prior to and during transport. 

Blood:
Transport blood on ice; DO NOT centrifuge; DO NOT freeze. 
Additional Information

Submit Provincial Laboratory requisition.

Test available only for renal and bone marrow transplant patients, or after consultation with Microbiologist/Virologist on call.

  • Pre-transplant: Blood test provides a pre-transplant baseline, but will not be tested unless approved by the Microbiologist/Virologist on call.
  • Post-transplant: Collect urine for testing.  Additional blood collections will not be tested unless the urine is positive.
  • For surveillance, do not collect samples more than once a month.

Refer to Provincial Laboratory Guide to Services http://www.provlab.ab.ca/guide-to-services.pdf.

Testing Location Provincial Laboratory
Testing Frequency
Alternate Name(s) BK Virus
Reference Interval