Specimen:

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

5 ml

Testing
Schedule:

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

Analytic Time:

4 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

100-200 mg/dl
A1At is an acute phase reactant, therefore any inflammatory process may
result in transient elevations of the patient's A-1-AT level.

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 1000 
(approximate hemoglobin concentration: 1000 mg/dl).

Lipemia (Intralipid): No significant interference up to an L index of 
890 (approximate triglycerides concentration: 1780 mg/dl). There is 
poor correlation between turbidity and triglycerides concentration.

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

No high dose hook effect is seen up to an alpha 1-antitrypsin 
concentration of 1200 mg/dl.

Elevated estrogen levels (oral contraceptives; third trimester of 
pregnancy) give rise to false positive results. CRP and haptoglobin 
should therefore also be determined.*

*Laurell CB, Kullander S, Thorell J. Effect of administration of a
 combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive on the level of individual
 plasma proteins. Scand J Lab Invest 1968;21:337-343.

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:

82103