Specimen:

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

2 ml whole blood in light green top tube

Testing
Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

18-45 mg/dl (adults).  Values for pediatric patients vary with age.

Test
Limitations:

Criterion: Recovery within plus or minus 10% of initial values.

Icterus: No significant interference up to an I index of 60 
(approximate conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 60 
mg/dl).

Hemolysis: No significant interference up to an H index of 500 
(approximate hemoglobin concentration: 500 mg/dl).

Lipemia (Intralipid®): No significant interference up to an L index of 
200 (approximate triglycerides concentration: 400 mg/dl). There is poor 
correlation between turbidity and triglycerides concentration.

Lipemia (Pentex Triglyceride Supertrate [Avian]): No significant 
interference up to 1730 mg/dl.

Rheumatoid factors less than 100 IU/ml do not interfere.

No high-dose hook effect was found up to prealbumin concentrations
of 260 mg/dl.

Falsely decreased results may be observed in samples from patients with 
monoclonal gammopathies of the IgM type.

Methodology:

Immunochemistry

Sample
Processing:

Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot plasma into labeled container and cap.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate.

Transport
Instructions:

Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

CPT Code:

84134