Cold Screen - Provincial
Discipline
Transfusion Medicine
Overview
Description
- A test to determine the presence or absence of cold auto agglutinin antibodies.
Alias
- Cold agglutinin test.
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Whole Blood
Specimen collection container
-
Saskatoon:
- 1 x 4 mL EDTA (lavender top).
-
Regina:
- 2 x 4 mL EDTA (lavender top) and 1 x 7 mL Serum (red top).
- Specimen (Blood and Microtainer) Collection Tubes
Required volume
- Optimal volume: 4 mL
- Minimum volume: 1 mL
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)
Transport and stability
- Room temperature 20-24°C.
Rejection criteria
- Specimen previously stored at < 20°C.
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Testing Information
Clinical interpretation
- Detects cold agglutinin antibodies (IgM isotype) present in the patient, which may contribute to patient care decisions. Specifically, this test may be requested in the setting of suspected cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia (cold agglutinin disease) or as a screening test in select patients prior to surgery involving hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.
Performance
Days/times performed
- Test request may be subject to approval by the on-call Transfusion Medicine Physician.
- RUH: testing available 24 hours/7 days per week.
- RGH: testing available 7:30 a.m.-04:00 p.m. 7 days a week.
- Advanced and Basic Sites: not available.
- Current State Blood Drop Map
Maximum laboratory time
- Routine: within 24 hours of receipt in Transfusion Medicine.
- Urgent: within 4 hours of receipt in Transfusion Medicine.
- STAT: within 1 hour of receipt in Transfusion Medicine.
Specimen retention time
- 5 weeks
Other information
| Forms Required |
Facility specific transfusion Medicine Lab test Request Forms. |
Last Updated: June 12, 2024