PROTEIN C ACTIVITY, PLASMA

Test Code
LAB3041211


CPT Codes
85303, LOiNC: 27818-4

Preferred Specimen
One 3 mL blue top tube
Pediatric: One 1.8mL pediatric blue top tube


Minimum Volume
Required for Testing: 1 mL plasma


Instructions
Tube must be filled to etched line to perform testing.

Samples must be centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes or using a high-speed centrifuge.  Platelet poor plasma should be separated into 1 ml aliquots.  Samples should be frozen within one hour (best practice), however samples stable for 4 hours.  Samples must remain frozen during transport. Any samples that are received thawed are not suitable for testing.
 


Transport Temperature
Frozen ( two 1 mL plasma aliquots)


Specimen Stability
Ambient: 4 hours if cap has not been removed or punctured
Frozen: 6 months (-70C)


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Clotted specimen, improperly filled tube, gross hemolysis.


Methodology
Amidolysis of chromogenic substrate on ACL TOP

Setup Schedule
Tuesday and Thursday


Reference Range
70-140%


Clinical Significance
Patients should be off oral anticoagulation therapy (Coumadin) for two weeks to accurately measure protein C levels.


Performing Laboratory
West Virginia University Hospital, Inc.




The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.