Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ANEMIA & NUTRITION; ENDOCRINE
Synonyms/Aliases
HEMOPOIETIN; EPOGEN
Abbreviations
EPO
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED 5 WORKING DAYS
Method
IMMUNOASSAY.
Temp
REFRIGERATED
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. MULTI-SAMPLING WILL BE DONE. SPECIFY EXACT DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST (VARIATIONS CAN OCCUR E.G. LOW DOSE 48-HOUR DST; HIGH DOSE 48-HOUR DST; SIMILAR TESTS MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED FOR A DIFFERENT ANALYTE I.E. ACTH). PROVIDE CLINICAL HISTORY. PRESCRIBE DEXAMETHASONE I.E. 1 MG FOR ADULTS; 0.3MG/M2 FOR CHILDREN.
Patient preparation
NO PREPARATION REQUIRED
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2 ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
AN ADJUNCT TO HELP DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF ANEMIA; AN ADUNCT TO HELP DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN PRIMARY VS SECONDARY POLYCYTHEMIA OR ERYTHROCYTOSIS.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
EXHIBITS DIURNAL VARIATION. LEVELS INFLUENCED BY ALTITUDE.