Any time a cryoglobulin sample is sent to a lab outside of the site where it
is drawn, it is not going to be a valid measurement of the serum cryoglobulin
concentration. The sample must remain at 37 degrees C from the moment it is
withdrawn until after the plasma is purified away from the blood cells by
centrifugation. If it drops below 37 degrees before this, cryoglobulins may
precipitate and be removed with the blood cells. Very few places in the
world do valid measurements of cryocrit. One of them, however, is Vanderbilt
University. Their protocol for measuring cryocrits can befound on the Web at
http://pueo.mhpcc.edu/~altenber/cryo/Cryocrit.html .
On at , LunaChic07 wrote:
> I have been recently been tested (twice) for cryoglobulins. The first
> attempt was "cancelled due to clerical error" so I looked it up out
> of curiousity. The test procedures appear to be very specific...draw
> blood with warm syringe, keep at 37 C until clotted...etc. So the
> second time I went in, I mentioned it to the person drawing my blood.
> Well, three technicians later (I was a hard stick) my blood was drawn
> next to an open window in a goosebump provoking temperature with no
> precautions taken other than putting the collection tube in warm
> water (after I was gone, I only saw the tube sitting in the
> freeeeeeezing room). Do these sound like optimal conditions for an
> accurate test result? I don't think so. The test did show "trace"
> cryoglobulins but it doesn't seem like the doctor is giving it much
> thought. Any advice or comments out there?
--
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Lee Altenberg, Ph.D.
Fax: (808) 875-0348
E-mail: al ten be r at santafe.edu (delete spaces, anti-spam tactic)
Web: http://pueo.mhpcc.edu/~altenber/cryo/
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