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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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HEPARIN PLATELET FACTOR IGG ANTIBODY

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2427    Geisinger Epic ID:  31824

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum (preferred) or sodium citrate plasma also acceptable.


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
3.0 mL blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube
Specimen required: 

0.5 mL aliquot serum (preferred) or plasma; minimum 0.2 mL



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge and submit 0.5 mL aliquot of serum (preferred) or plasma.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred). Room temperature (stable 8 hours) and frozen specimens also acceptable.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 8 hours. 2-8°C: 48 hours. Frozen: 6 months.


Rejection criteria: 

Specimen stability exceeded; specimen grossly hemolyzed.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

<0.400


CPT code(s):  86022
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Polyspecific (IgG, A, and M) antibody to platelet factor 4.


Methodology: 
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Synonyms: 

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, Ab to platelet factor 4, HIT, Anti-platelet factor 4, Anti-PF4, HAT, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia GAM, Heparin-associated antibody, HITGAM


Clinical significance: 

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is the most common form of drug-induced thrombocytopenia and can develop in up to 5% of patients treated with heparin. A presumptive diagnosis of HIT can be based on a > 50% reduction in platelet count more than 5 days after initiation of heparin therapy, a platelet count <150,000/uL or the development of thromboembolic complications.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Benjamin Andress, PhD, DABCC
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Review Date:  02/11/2025

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