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Myoglobin

Serum Myoglobin

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5090, Beaker: MYOB, Antrim: 17033

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

FOR EC AND INPATIENT SAMPLE COLLECTION ONLY:

Preferred Sample:  One Light Green (Mint) Top or Dark Green with Yellow Ring Plasma Separator Tube (PST). Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL 

Acceptable Sample:  One Gold Top SST (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL) 

FOR PHYSICIAN OFFICE / OUTREACH SAMPLE COLLECTION:

COLLECT:  One Gold Top SST (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL) 

Contact Laboratory for acceptability of other tube types.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

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

Preparation for Courier Transport

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

Rejection Criteria

• Moderate to grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection.

In-Lab Processing

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST tubes and Microtainers^® to separate serum from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F): 2-4 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): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

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

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
STAT results available within 1 hour of receipt in the Laboratory.
Routine results available within 4 hours.

Reference Range

Less than 98 ng/mL

Samples with results greater than 1000 ng/mL will be reported as "greater than 1000 ng/mL."

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay.

Interpretation

• An increase in serum myoglobin occurs within 2-3 hours of cardiac or skeletal muscle damage. An increase is NOT specific for cardiac injury. A low concentration of myoglobin without evidence of increase (over 6-9 hours) in a patient presenting shortly after onset of chest pain is strongly suggestive that an acute MI has NOT occurred. Myoglobin may be increased in chronic renal failure.
  
  
• Patients routinely exposed to animals or to animal serum products may develop heterophilic antibodies that can interfere with test results. Erroneous findings may also be obtained from samples taken from patients who have been treated with monoclonal mouse antibodies or have received them for diagnostic purposes.

Clinical Utility

Serum myoglobin is used in the assessment of skeletal or myocardial muscle injury. Increases in serum myoglobin are usually detected earlier than increases in CK, CK-MB, or troponin in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This assay is also used to diagnose rhabdomyolysis. Myoglobin levels increase with muscle trauma or ischemia, malignant hyperthermia, exertion, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and muscular dystrophies.

CPT Codes

83874

Contacts

Last Updated

10/17/2023