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Due to winter weather, some UNC Health facilities are closed or have altered operating hours. View clinic delays and closures.

Effective Jan. 5, 2026: Temporary Age-Based Visitor Restrictions at UNC Health for all inpatient and waiting areas throughout its inpatient hospitals.

Published on March 16, 2020

COVID-19 PCR

For General Information, see also: Testing for respiratory viruses at UNC McLendon Laboratories

Specimen Type

Test ID		LAB12019
EPIC ORDER		COVID-19
CPT Code(s)		87635
Group/Individual Test		Group
Laboratory		Molecular Microbiology
Tube Station		82
Specimen	Routine:	Nasopharyngeal (NP Swab) collected in Universal Viral Transport Media (UTM/VTM); flocked swab preferred Nasopharyngeal swabs, Oropharnygeal (OP) swabs, NP/OP swabs, nasopharyngeal(NP) aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavages, bronchial washings, and tracheal aspirates. Specimens must be transported to the Microbiology laboratory as soon as possible, but no later than 2 hours post-collection. See collection video if needed. Nasopharyngeal swab ordering information and guide for specimen collection. Collection requirements for allowed specimen types. NP is preferred specimen
Availability	Routine:	Daily
	STAT:	N/A
Turnaround Time		1 hr NP and NP/OP swabs in UTM.
Reference Range	Normal:	Not Detected
Comments	This real time RT-PCR (rtRT-PCR) test screens for the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Negative results do not preclude SARS-CoV-2 infection and should not be used as the sole basis for patient management decisions. Negative results must be combined with clinical observations, patient history, and epidemiological information. Patient and provider information can be found below according to the test performed: Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2– Cepheid: providers and patients BioFire Respiratory Panel 2.1 (with SARS-CoV-2): providers and patients Cepheid Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV Plus: providers and patients Store and transport 2-8°C within 8 hours of collection, if not immediately tubed to the Microbiology Laboratory (tube station 82).

Performance Characteristics
	SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR EUA test	Claimed limit of detection in EUA	Verified limit of detection at UNC
	Cepheid Xpress SARS-CoV-2¹ and Flu/RSV/SARS-CoV-2 combo² tests	0.0200 PFU/mL¹ 131 copies/mL²	200 copies/mL
	BioFire RPP 2.1	160-500 copies/mL	250-500 copies/mL

Reviewed by J. Carr on November 21, 2025

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514