Clinical Information

Morning samples taken between 7:30 am and 12:00 noon have been recommended. The performance of the assay has not been established with cord blood, neonatal specimens, cadaver specimens, heat-inactivated specimens, or body fluids other than serum or plasma, such as saliva, urine, amniotic fluid, or pleural fluid. The performance of the assay has not been established for populations of immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients. Acetaminophen concentration at 18 mg/dL decreases EPO results by -12.79% at an EPO concentration of 4-6 mIU/mL. EPO results should not be corrected based on this bias. Samples above therapeutic levels for acetaminophen should be interpreted with caution. Patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma have anemia associated with reduced production of erythropoietin because of hyperviscosity, and elevated levels of interleukin. IgG concentration at 6700 mg/dL decreases EPO results by -11.3% at an erythropoietin concentration of 25-35 mIU/mL. EPO results should not be corrected based on this bias. Samples with elevated IgG levels should be interpreted with caution. Patient samples may contain heterophilic antibodies that could react in immunoassays to give falsely elevated or depressed results. Due to the observed cross-reactivity with common erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), use of the Atellica IM EPO assay in patients undergoing recombinant EPO therapy is not recommended