Laboratory Test Reference Guide

Laboratory Information

Test Name

Cryoglobulin

External Price (excl. GST)

33.27

Specimen Collection

Adult Specimen

3x 4mL plain red top tubes (no anticoagulant). Gold (gel) or heparin plasma tubes are NOT suitable.

Specimen Collection and Transport Protocols

Collection must be at Waikato Hospital phlebotomy clinic.
Blood must be collected into pre-warmed tubes and kept at 37ºC in sand thermos for immediate transfer to Central Registration, Waikato Hospital laboratory.  External patients must have the specimen collection done at the Phlebotomy Clinic, Waikato Hospital.

Test Information

Department

Immunology

Test Availability

Mon - Thu, 0800 - 1630 Fri, 0800 - 1400 excl. Public Holidays

Laboratory Turnaround Time

10 days

Unit of measurement

Negative or trace. If positive, an estimate of small, moderate or large will be given and a cryocrit performed (see notes below). Cryocrit is reported as the percentage volume of cryoglobulin in the serum.

Additional Information

Rheumatoid factor, C4, immunoglobulins and protein electrophoresis will be performed on all requests. When the screen is positive, a cryocrit will be performed. If the result is 1% or greater an immunofixation will be performed on the initial sample to ascertain whether the cryoblobulin is monoclonal.