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Test Code COLD Cold Agglutinin Titer

Clinical Information

The cold agglutinin titer test is to be used as a tool in the evaluation of suspected cold agglutinin syndrome. In this syndrome, cold agglutinins, usually IgM with anti-I specificity, attach to the patient's erythrocytes causing a variety of symptoms. Symptoms may include chronic anemia due to premature removal of the sensitized erythrocytes from circulation by hemolysis, to acrocyanosis of the ears, fingers, or toes due to local blood stasis in the skin capillaries.

Synonym

  • COLD

Specimen Required

Preferred Container/Tube: Gold SST Top
Acceptable Container/Tube: Gold SST Top
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume: 1 mL

Specimen Collection Information

Whole blood -- DO NOT centrifuge specimens. Transport at ambient temperatures.

Specimen Stability Information

Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 7 days

Rejected Due To

  • Frozen
  • Gross hemolysis
  • Sent on heat/ice
  • Less than minimum volume
  • Missing collector information
  • Missing patient identification
  • Centrifuged specimens

Reference Values

<32

Interpretation

Titers above 64 are considered elevated, but hemolytic anemia resulting from cold-reactive autoagglutinins rarely occurs unless the titer is 1000 or above. Titers below 1000 may be obtained when the autoantibody has a different specificity (eg, anti-i) or if the cold agglutinin is of the less-common low-titer, high-thermal-amplitude type.

 The test is not a direct measure of clinical significance and must be used in conjunction with other in vitro and in vivo parameters

Cautions

Normal individuals may have low levels of cold agglutinins.

Method Description

Titration/Red Cell Agglutination

Performing Lab

Blood Bank University Hospital

Day(s) Performed

Thursday (excludes OSU holidays)

Report Available

7 days

Reporting Name

Cold Agglutinin Titer

CPT Code Information

86157