HTLV Antibodies
- Description
- Qualitative chemiluminescent immuno-assay for HTLV I and HTLV II antibodies. Samples which are positive or equivocal will be sent to the reference laboratory for confirmation. This test is not UKAS accredited
- Clinical details
- HTLV associated diseases include adult T-cell leukaemia (ATLL), HTLV associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM / TSP), HTLV uveitis and HTLV associated infective dermatitis. These complications only occur in the minority of infected individuals (~5%). High prevalence areas are the Caribbean, Japan, South America and parts of Africa. Transmission is predominantly by breastfeeding in high prevalence countries but is also associated with injecting drug use, sexual routes and blood transfusion.
- Related condition
- Synonyms
- HTLV, adult T-cell leukaemia (ATLL), HTLV associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM / TSP), HTLV uveitis, HTLV associated infective dermatitis
- Testing site
- Synnovis : Infection Sciences : Blackfriars Hub
- Laboratory
- Virology
- Sample type and volume required
- 2.5 - 5ml Yellow Top Serum Separation Tube (SST) Clotted Blood (for serum).
- Storage and transport
- Place labelled sample in a sealed sample bag and send to Central Specimen Reception (CSR). To prevent sample haemolysis please store samples in refrigerator if a delay in sending samples to CSR is unavoidable.
- Turnaround time
- 3 working days
- Contacts
Infection Sciences Department at St Thomas’ Hospital
Phone: 020 7188 8008
St Thomas’ Hospital
North Wing – 5th Floor
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EHSouth London Specialist Virology Centre
Phone – Results: 02032996155
Phone – Medical Advice: 02032996298
King’s College Hospital
Cheyne Wing, 2nd Floor (opposite Liver ITU)
Denmark Hill
London SE5 9RS
DX address: South London (PHL) Kings DX 6570200 Peckham 90SE