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HelpEpic Code LAB848 Tropheryma whipplei, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies
Additional Codes
Mayo Code: TWRP
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Useful For
Aiding in the diagnosis of Whipple disease, especially for identifying inconclusive or suspicious cases, using tissue or fluid specimens
Specimen Type
VariesNecessary Information
Specimen source is required.
Specimen Required
The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Tropheryma whipplei DNA is unlikely.
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Specimen Type: Fresh tissue or biopsy
Sources: Small intestine (duodenum, ileum, or jejunum), lymph node, bone, joint, synovial, liver, pancreas, spleen, lung, heart valve (and other heart tissues), or brain
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire collection or 5 mm(3) - approximately the size of a pencil eraser
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect fresh tissue specimen.
2. Submit tissue only, do not add fluid to tissue.
3. Refrigerate or freeze specimen.
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) <7 days /Frozen <7 days
Preferred Paraffin-embedded tissue block:
Supplies: Tissue Block Container (T553)
Specimen Type: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block (FFPE)
Sources: Small intestine (duodenum, ileum, or jejunum), lymph node, bone, joint, synovial, liver, pancreas, spleen, lung, heart valve (and other heart tissues), or brain
Container/Tube: Tissue block
Collection Instructions: Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block to be cut and returned.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerated
Acceptable Paraffin-embedded tissue block:
Specimen Type: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block (FFPE)
Sources: Small intestine (duodenum, ileum, or jejunum), lymph node, bone, joint, synovial, liver, pancreas, spleen, lung, heart valve (and other heart tissues), or brain
Container/Tube: Sterile container for each individual cut section (scroll).
Collection Instructions: Perform microtomy and prepare five separate 10-micron sections. Each section (scroll) must be placed in a separate sterile container for submission.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerated
Specimen Type: Fluid
Sources: Cerebrospinal or ocular (eg, vitreous humor)
Container/Tube: Sterile vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) <7 days/Frozen <7 days
Specimen Type: Synovial fluid
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA)
Acceptable: Pink top (EDTA), royal blue top (EDTA), sterile vial containing EDTA-derived aliquot, red clot tube (no anticoagulant), or sterile container
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Send specimen in original tube (preferred).
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) <7 days /Frozen <7 days
Special Instructions
Specimen Minimum Volume
Fluid: 0.5 mL
Fresh tissue or biopsy: 5 mm(3)
Paraffin-embedded tissue block: two 10-micron sections
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varies | Varies | ||
Reject Due To
| Slides Bone marrow |
Reject |
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Reference Values
Not applicable
Clinical Information
Whipple disease is a chronic, systemic illness that, in most cases, involves the small intestine and its lymphatic drainage. The disease primarily affects adults of middle age, with a peak incidence in the third and fourth decades. Clinical findings may include malabsorption, chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, arthralgia, fever, and central nervous system symptoms.
Pathologic changes associated with Whipple disease are distinctive, with diagnosis dependent on histologic examination of biopsy specimens from involved tissues. Electron microscopic or special high-resolution light microscopic examination of the lamina propria of the small intestine of patients with untreated Whipple disease reveals many rod-shaped bacillary organisms. These tiny bacilli, referred to as Whipple bacilli, measure about 0.25 micrometer long and are seen as periodic acid-Schiff-positive granules within macrophages. These inclusions represent fragments of the cell walls from degenerating bacilli.
Culture of Whipple bacilli from biopsy material is laborious and the organism is very slow growing. Definitive identification of the Whipple associated bacillus has been difficult because of these limitations. Molecular techniques using polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing allowed classification of this bacillus as an actinomycete not closely related to any other known species, which has been named Tropheryma whipplei.
Cautions
Test results should be used as an aid in diagnosis and not be considered diagnostic in themselves. The single assay should not be used as the only criteria to form a clinical conclusion, but results should be correlated with patient symptoms and clinical presentation. A negative result does not negate the presence of the organism or active disease.
Interpretation
A positive result indicates the presence of Tropheryma whipplei DNA.
A negative result indicates the absence of detectable T whipplei DNA but does not negate the presence of the organism and may occur due to inhibition of polymerase chain reaction, sequence variability underlying primers or probes, or the presence of T whipplei DNA in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.
Reporting Name
Tropheryma whipplei PCRMethod Name
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Method Description
Nucleic acid is extracted from all specimens using the MagNA Pure extraction system. The resulting nucleic acid is tested for the presence of the target DNA of Tropheryma whipplei using the LightCycler real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The instrument amplifies and continuously monitors the development of target nucleic acid using fluorescent resonance emission technology after each cycle. Analysis of the PCR amplification and probe melting curves is accomplished through the use of the LightCycler software.(Sloan LM, Rosenblatt JE, Cockerill FR III: Detection of Tropheryma whipplei DNA in clinical specimens by LightCycler real-time PCR. J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Jul;43(7):3516-3518; Geibdorfer W, Moter A, Bogdan C: Tropheryma whipplei. In: Carroll K, Pfaller M, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:1189-1197)
CPT Code Information
87798
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| TWRP | Tropheryma whipplei PCR | 97206-7 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| SRC56 | Specimen source | 31208-2 |
| 22302 | Tropheryma whipplei PCR, Result | 97206-7 |
Report Available
2 to 7 daysTest Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Gastroenterology and Hepatology Test Request (T728) with the specimen.