Specimen

Blood

Collection Medium:

Minimum:

Full draw any size lavender top tube

Testing Schedule:

Testing performed on Wednesday only; sample should be in the lab by 
Tuesday. Results usually reported on Thursday.

Reference Range:

Compatible with hemoglobin A, abnormal hemoglobins are quantitated by
high performance liquid chromatography

Comments:

This test is appropriate for routine screening.  Pertinent clinical 
information should accompany the request and there should be a recent 
hematology profile.  Path resident will interact with clinician on all 
quantitative hemoglobin orders.  Peripheral smear morphology, RBC 
indicies, and HPLC results are correlated by the pathologist and a 
written narrative is reported by computer.  Analysis cannot be done on 
patients transfused within the preceding 3 months since the presence of 
transfused cells may render the interpretation ambiguous.

Methodology:

High Pressure Liquid Chromotography and Wright Stain

CPT Code:

83020