Clinical Indications

Further investigation of low serum alpha-1 antitrypsin levels. Samples will be automatically referred by Clinical Biochemistry if serum levels are less than 1.0 g/L

Request Form

Combined Pathology Blood form (Yellow/Black)

Availability

Analysed by referral laboratory if specific criteria met.

Specific Criteria

Total alpha-1 antitrypsin measured and referred for phenotyping if level is less than 1.0 g/l and alpha-1 antitrypsin has been specifically requested. If low alpha-1 antitrypsin has been picked up as an incidental finding from electrophoresis then a comment will be added to the report asking for the requesting clinician to discuss with the patient before phenotyping is carried out. 
Patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin levels between 0.5 and 1.0 g/L are probably carriers and may not require further investigation.

Turnaround Time

1 month

Specimen

Serum

Volume

2 ml

Container

Yellow top (SST) tube

Lab. Handling

Aliquot and store at 4C

Causes for Rejection

Serum alpha-1 antitrypsin level greater than 1.0 g/L.

Interpretation

Information on phenotypes. A patient information leaflet is available.