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Erythropoietin

EPO

Test Codes

Antrim #31429, EPIC: LAB5808, SOFT: EPO

Department

Special Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 2.0 mL)

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged collection tube within two hours of collection. (Minimum Serum: 0.5 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged collection tube, refrigerated (2-8 °C or 36-46 °F). (Minimum Serum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Plasma specimens.

Severely lipemic, icteric, or grossly hemolyzed specimens.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Room temperature is acceptable for a maximum of two hours. (Minimum Serum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gels
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 48 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gels
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 48 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 6 months

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Special Testing Laboratory

Performed

Tuesday, Friday.
Results available within 3 business days.

Reference Range

4.5-29.0 mU/mL.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay.

Interpretation

As the hematocrit is lowered by nutritional, aplastic, or hemolytic anemias, the concentration of erythropoietin increases. In the absence of anemia, elevated concentrations of erythropoietin are seen with renal tumors, as a manifestation of renal transplant rejection and in secondary polycythemia.

Decreased levels of erythropoietin are observed in hemochromatosis, polycythemia rubra vera and in patients with HIV infection who are anemic and being treated with AZT.

Clinical Utility

Several tumors (i.e., hemangioblastoma of cerebellum, pheochromocytoma, hepatoma, leiomyomas, nephroblastoma, renal cysts and renal adenocarcinoma) may produce erythropoietin, causing an unexplained polycythemia. The erythropoietin assay aids in the diagnosis of obscure anemias, the anemia of end stage renal disease, and can be useful in the investigation of other types of anemia.

CPT Codes

82668
LOINC: 15061-5

Contacts

Last Updated

1/11/2023