Protein C, Functional

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Category:

Turnaround Time: 2 - 3 days
CPT Code:

85303

Test Type: 1 mL Plasma, frozen

Overview:

Confirmation and characterization of protein C deficiency.

Individuals with heterozygous PC deficiency may have low normal PC levels.6 Treatment with warfarin decreases the levels of vitamin K-dependent factors including PC. PC levels start to drop after six hours of warfarin treatment and do not regain pretreatment levels until generally two weeks after cessation of therapy. Elevated factor VIII levels, as can be seen in acute phase reaction, can normalize the aPTT and effectively reduce PC levels.7 PC levels can be falsely low in patients with the factor VLeiden mutation. PC levels can become depleted as the result of activation of coagulation limiting the utility of testing for congenital PC deficiency during the immediate convalescent period after a thrombotic event.6 Heparin therapy up to 1 unit/mL does not affect PC levels.6 This test should not be used for patients receiving thrombin inhibitors such as hirudin and argatroban.7

See Protein C Deficiency Profile [283655] for more clinical information.

1. Adcock DM, Kressin DC, Marlar RA. Effect of 3.2% vs 3.8% sodium citrate concentration on routine coagulation testing. Am J Clin Pathol. 1997 Jan; 107(1):105-110. PubMed 8980376

2. Reneke J, Etzell J, Leslie S, Ng VL, Gottfried EL. Prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time due to underfilled specimen tubes with 109 mmol/L (3.2%) citrate anticoagulant. Am J Clin Pathol. 1998 Jun; 109(6):754-757. PubMed 9620035

3. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standardization. Collection, Transport, and Processing of Blood Specimens for Coagulation Testing and General Performance of Coagulation Assays; Approved Guideline. 5th ed. Villanova: NCCLS; 2008. Document H21-A5:28(5)

4. Gottfried EL, Adachi MM. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time can be performed on the first tube. Am J Clin Pathol. 1997 Jun; 107(6):681-683. PubMed 9169665

5. McGlasson DL, More L, Best HA, Norris WL, Doe RH, Ray H. Drawing specimens for coagulation testing: Is a second tube necessary? Clin Lab Sci. 1999 May-Jun; 12(3):137-139. PubMed 10539100

6. Adcock DM, Bethel MA, Macy PA. Coagulation Handbook.
Aurora, Colo: Esoterix−Colorado Coagulation; 2006.

7. Van Cott EM, Laposata M. Coagulation. In: Jacobs DS, DeMott WR, Oxley DK, eds. Laboratory Test Handbook With Key Word Index. Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp; 2001:327-358.

Collection Details:

Patient Preparation:

Ideally, the patient should not be on anticoagulant therapy. Avoid warfarin (Coumadin®) therapy for two weeks prior to the test and heparin, direct Xa, and thrombin inhibitor therapies for about three days prior to testing. Do not draw from an arm with a heparin lock or heparinized catheter.

Collection Instructions:

If the patient's hematocrit exceeds 55%, the volume of citrate in the collection tube must be adjusted.

Blue-top (sodium citrate) tube.

Blood should be collected in a blue-top tube containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate.1 Evacuated collection tubes must be filled to completion to ensure a proper blood-to-anticoagulant ratio.2,3 The sample should be mixed immediately by gentle inversion at least six times to ensure adequate mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood. A discard tube is not required prior to collection of coagulation samples, except when the sample is collected using a winged (ie, "butterfly") collection system. With a winged blood collection set a discard tube should be drawn first to account for the dead space of the tubing and prevent under-filling of the evacuated tube.4,5 When noncitrate tubes are collected for other tests, collect sterile and nonadditive (red-top) tubes prior to citrate (blue-top) tubes. Any tube containing an alternative anticoagulant should be collected after the blue-top tube. Gel-barrier tubes and serum tubes with clot initiators should also be collected after the citrate tubes.

 

Freeze.