Test Directory

• Cold agglutinin titer

Reflexed Test

• ABO
• Rh

All healthy individuals contain some cold agglutinin in their serum. In certain disease states (viral infections, atypical pneumonia), the titer rises.

Normal value is titer less than 64. Titers greater than 64 may indicate cold agglutinin disease or Mycoplasma pneumonia. Specific Mycoplasma pneumonia titers may be of greater clinical utility when Mycoplasma infection is suspected.

Hemolytic anemia resulting from cold reactive auto agglutinins rarely occurs unless the titer is >1000

Preferred Specimen Type: Whole Blood

Preferred Collection Container: 1 Pink Top (EDTA)

Alternate Collection Container: 2 Lavender Top (EDTA)

Desired Specimen Volume: 6 mL

Minimum Acceptable Volume: 3 mL

Other Instructions: Minimum volume for infants <4 months is 2 full Microtainer, Lavender Top (EDTA)

The specimen tube shall be properly labeled with the following 3 independent identifiers for inpatients and outpatients:

1. Patient's full name
2. Date of birth
3. Medical record number

The labels shall also include the following verifiers:

1. Date and time of collection
2. Initials/tech code of phlebotomist

Exception Criteria:

• Trauma -ED patient: Patients with unknown name and date of birth, medical record number and temporary name are acceptable.
• Good Shepherd Rehab: Typenex band ID is used as an additional patient identifier

i. Transport to the laboratory at room temperature

ii. Do not transport refrigerated or on ice

• Mislabeled
• Insufficient volume
• Inappropriate specimen type
• Transported refrigerated

•  Titer <64