How to Test a Uterine Biopsy For HHV-6A
Commercial labs that can test uterine biopsies for HHV-6 include Coppe Laboratories and Eruo-Fins Viracor in the US.
Coppe Laboratories (USA): Tissues can be sent frozen and shipped on dry ice for HHV-6A/B PCR DNA testing with the results being given as a ratio of HHV-6 genome to cellular genes. Coppe asks that no buffer, water or saline be added to the sample and that it be shipped in a sterile tube/container. Code: 1111; (CPT 87532x2)
Alternatively, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded samples on glass slides can be sent for immunohistochemistry testing.
Code: 2001 (CPT 88342)
Eruo-Fins Viracor (USA): Quantitative PCR DNA testing for HHV-6. It does not differentiate between HHV-6A and HHV-6B. They prefer frozen specimens with no added fluid, water or saline, shipped overnight with dry ice. No slides or paraffin embedded tissue accepted. Code: 6506
HHV-6A vs. HHV-6B. Please note that Coppe and IKDT can differentiate HHV-6A from HHV-6B, but most labs do not have this capability. Only HHV-6A has been found in uterine biopsies of women with unexplained infertility (Marci 2016).
How to Test Menstrual Blood For HHV-6A
Fertility Phoenix offers menstrual blood testing via Covee in the US.
Fertility Phoenix’s Covee test is the only non-invasive option to check for HHV-6A infection in the uterus. This method requires just 1-2ml of menstrual fluid, collected by the individual and mailed back for analysis.
Covee provides quantitative data on the presence of HHV-6A DNA in the endometrium, meaning it can be used for diagnosis or to monitor the effectiveness of a prescribed antiviral therapy. Additionally, Covee will differentiate HHV6A from HHV6B which can be meaningful as these two viruses differ in their susceptibility to antiviral agents.
This is for anyone struggling with unexplained infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or repeated embryo implantation failure after IVF.
It should be a standard screening test at fertility clinics.