Specimen:

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

2 ml whole blood from 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:

30-200 mg/dl

Test
Limitations:

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

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

Lipemia (Intralipid): No significant interference up to an L index of 
1000 (approximate triglycerides concentration: 2000 mg/dl). There is 
poor correlation between turbidity and triglycerides concentration.

Hemolysis: The Glick model which is normally used for assessment of 
hemoglobin interference is not suitable in the case of haptoglobin.  
Binding of free hemoglobin is the physiological function of 
haptoglobin.  In the Glick study, hemolysate is added to the sample 
resulting in the formation of the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex. This 
complex is present in the reagent tube and causes a 10-15% decrease in 
haptoglobin values. However, the effect is of no relevance for the 
results in native samples because in vivo the haptoglobin/hemoglobin 
complex is rapidly eliminated from the circulation and is practically 
not present in the blood.

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

A high-dose hook effect may occur at haptoglobin concentrations above 
1200 mg/dl.

Methodology:

Immunochemistry

Sample
Processing:

Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Centrifuge within one hour of draw time.
Aliquot plasma into labeled container and cap.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate.

Transport
Instructions:

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

Instructions:

Separate plasma from cells ASAP.

CPT Code:

83010