Whipples Disease PCR

Diagnostic Use

Whipple's Disease is an infectious illness associated with a wide variety of intestinal (100%) and extra-intestinal manifestations, including arthropathy (85%), weight loss (95%), lymphadenopathy (50%), fever (50%), and hyperpigmentation (45%). It is rare.

Diagnosis can be difficult. Clinical suspicion is usually confirmed by periodic-acid-Schiff staining of inclusions in the macrophages. Culture of the causative organism, T.whippelii, is difficult and insensitive.

PCR of the organism's DNA from tissue is significantly more sensitive than histopathology. PCR can be used to confirm the diagnosis when suggested by the histopathology or as a further test when the diagnosis is clinically suspected but the histopathology is inconclusive.

Department

Microbiology - Virology

Delphic Registration Code

WHIP

Laboratory Handling

Laboratory

Referred to LabPlus Auckland for testing. Testing available Monday-Friday

Synonyms

T. whipplei
Tropheryma whipplei

Turnaround Time

2 weeks

Specimen Type

• CSF
• Tissue

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Pottle

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

5

Additional Specimen Information

Patient Specimen - CSF 5ml and/or tissue

CSF 5mL required

Fresh tissue in a sterile container. A small volume of sterile saline may be added if the specimen is very small.

Paraffin block tissue is acceptable if fresh tissue is unavailable.

Aliquot Instructions

Transport to Lab

Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Test Method

PCR

Non-Funded Test Cost

$249.34 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

9756

Referred to Labplus, Auckland

Contact Information

Enquiry Form