Sign in →

Test Code LAB4071 CRYOGLOBULIN

Important Note

Obtain 3 prewarmed 10mL non Gel, Glass Red Top tubes and a heat pack from lab prior to drawing. Specimens must be kept at 37°C during collection, tansporation, and processing. Transport to the lab using activated heat pack and place directly in 37°C heat block or submerged in 37°C water bath for at least one hour to fully clot.

Specimen Type

10 mL Glass Red Top tube

Collection Instructions

Draw 3 × 10ml glass red top tubes. Keep Warm using activated heat pack and transport directly to the lab, place in 37°C degree heat block  or submerged upright in 37°C waterbath as soon as possible to fully clot.

Specimens MUST be kept at 37°C during collection, tansporation and processing.

Specimen Volume

30 mL

Minimum Volume

5 mL

Turnaround Time

7 days

Test Schedule

Daily

Sample Stability

Refrigerated: 7 Days

Specimen Processing

  •  Place 3 x10 mL red top serum tubes upright in the 37°C heat block  or submerged upright in 37°C waterbath  for at least 1 hour to allow the tubes tob fully clot.
  • Place 3 conical centrifuge tubes in the heat block to warm to 37°C before use.

Note: We do not advise using disposable conical centrifuge tubes (the ones commonly used in urinalysis or body fluids) as they crack easily and often do not withstand the faster centrifugation process.

  • After 1 hour, and without spinning the tubes, aliquot the unclotted supernatant from all serum tubes into one of the pre-warmed conical centrifuge tube.

Important: For the next step DO NOT use refrigerated centrifuge.

  • Centrifuge the conical centrifuge tube for 5 minutes at 3000 rpm
  • When centrifugation is complete, remove the other 2 empty conical tubes from water bath
  • Place exactly 5 mL of serum in one of the empty, pre-warmed conical centrifuge tube
  • Place the remaining serum in the second empty, pre-warmed conical centrifuge tube
  • Label and cap the tubes and store at 2-8°C.

Method

Precipitation

Reference Ranges

Cryoglobulin Negative

Cryocrit < 0.1%

Test Components

Cryoglobulin.

Cryocrit.

CPT Codes

82595

Result Interpretation

Results will be preliminarily determined as negative or positive on a daily basis. Results from 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours and 7 days will be reported in the LIS on day 7. Any positive results will require a crycrit calculation on the conical tube with 5mL and re-warming of the 2nd conical tube to verify if the specimen is a true postive.

Limitations

  • Tests is not useful for general screening of a population without a clinical suspicion of cryoglobulinemia.
  • Temperature control before and after serum separation is very important. Failure to keep specimen at 37°C during the processing of the sample can lead to false-negative results.
  • Falsely low cryocrits will occur if the precipitated serum is not kept cold while determining the cryocrit.