HLA-A29 Determination

Test Code

12343

CPT Codes
81381

Preferred Specimen

5 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Minimum Volume

3 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Whole blood collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube, EDTA (pink-top) tube, EDTA (royal blue-top) tube, or sodium citrate (light blue-top) tube

Instructions

If submitted with any other tests, please submit separate tube for this test. Do not open tube or split sample.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Received frozen • Clotted

Methodology
Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification • Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide Probes

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 8 days

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

The HLA-A*29.02 allele is strongly associated with Birdshot Retinochoroidopathy (BSRC), an autoimmune disorder that can lead to severe visual impairment. Not all BSRC patients carry this allele and not all individuals with this allele develop the disease. Consider sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, and ocular lymphoma in differential diagnoses of BSCR, particularly in those cases where the chorioretinal lesions are less typical of the small oval 'Birdshot' lesions.

Reference:
Herbort, CP, et al. Br J Ophthalmol (2017) 101:851-5.

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.