Synonyms |
|
Cryoglobulins,
cold agglutinins, immune complexes. |
Clinical
Indications |
|
Cryoproteins
are proteins which form a gel or precipitate on cooling the
serum or plasma and re-dissolve when warmed to 37'C.
Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that exhibit this phenomenon
and may be either monoclonal (25%) or mixed (with (18%) or
without (50%) monoclonal components).
|
Availability |
|
On
request
|
|
Specific
Criteria |
|
Cryoprotein studies are indicated
in any patient showing clinical manifestations including
intolerance of cold with pain in exposed area's, Raynaud's
phenomenon, and skin manifestations including purpura,
urticaria and ulcers.
|
Turnaround
Time |
|
One
week
|
Specimen |
|
Serum
and Plasma
|
Volume |
|
2 ml
|
Container |
|
Pre-warmed yellow top (SST) tube
and purple top (EDTA) tubes
|
|
Collection |
|
Patients
must be bled at Basildon Hospital. When patient is ready to be
bled contact Clinical Biochemistry x3032 to obtain
cryoprotein sampling kit.
|
|
|
| 1. |
Take
first blood sample into pre-warmed yellow top (SST) tube
and immediately place in flask containing 37°C water. |
| 2. |
Take
second blood sample into pre-warmed purple top (EDTA)
tube and immediately place in flask containing 37°C
water. Replace the flask lid. (Note: The laboratory
will, in this instance only, accept unlabelled samples
in the flask, provided they are accompanied by the
request form.) |
| 3. |
Take
flask with samples and relevant request form (along with
any other samples taken at room temperature) to Clinical
Biochemistry within 10 minutes of collection. |
|
Lab.
Handling |
|
Before
sample arrival ensure centrifuge has been set to 37°C
and allowed to run for at least 1 hour (minimum temperature
must be 30°C). Ensure that
2 aliquot tubes have been pre-warmed to 37°C
in Microbiology incubator and labelled (37°C
serum and 37°C plasma).
Centrifuge samples for 10 minutes at 3000 rpm and immediately
separate warm centrifuged samples into 4 aliquots (do not allow
to cool).
|
|
|
| 1. |
Aliquot
of serum into pre-warmed tube labelled 'serum 37°C'.
Transfer directly to Serology incubator for
storage until analysis. |
| 2. |
Aliquot
of serum into tube labelled 'serum 4°C'.
Store at 4°C for at
least 72 hours before analysis. |
| 3. |
Aliquot
of EDTA plasma into pre-warmed tube labelled
'plasma 37°C'.
Transfer directly to Serology incubator for
storage until analysis. |
| 4. |
Aliquot
of EDTA plasma into tube labelled 'plasma 4°C'.
Store at 4°C for at
least 72 hours before analysis. |
|
Causes
for Rejection |
|
Samples
not collected using pre-warmed (37°C)
collection tubes, not transported in pre-warmed flask or delay
in samples reaching laboratory.
|
|
Interpretation |
|
Monoclonal
cryoglobulins may be associated with immunocytomata and are
usually an IgM protein. Mixed cryoglobulins may be associated
with lymphoproliferative disorders, but the majority are
idiopathic.
|