Home
HelpCatalog ID Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Serum
Specimen Requirements
Collect 2 mL whole blood in gold top or red top tube. Collection when patient is fasting is preferred.
1 mL serum
Storage and Transport
Refrigerated: serum up to 48 hours
Frozen: serum up to 6 months at -20C
Causes for Rejection
Quantity insufficient, incorrect tube, hemolyzed, grossly lipemic
Turn Around Time
Performed M, W, F - day shift only
Clinical Information
Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1A) is the most abundant serum protease inhibitor and inhibits trypsin and elastin, as well as several other proteases. The release of proteolytic enzymes from plasma onto organ surfaces and into tissue spaces results in tissue damage unless inhibitors are present. Congenital deficiency of A1A is associated with the development of emphysema at an unusually early age and with an increased incidence of neonatal hepatitis, usually progressing to cirrhosis.
Reference Interval
Reference Interval: 100.0 - 190.0 mg/dL
Interpretation
Patients with serum levels less than 100.0 mg/dL may have a homozygous deficiency and are at risk for early lung disease. Alpha-1-antitrypsin proteotyping should be done to confirm the presence of homozygous deficiency alleles.
Alpha-1-antitrypsin is an acute-phase reactant and any inflammatory process will elevate serum levels. Do not test during acute inflammatory processes. Must test when fasting as specimen turbidity affects analysis. Increased levels are non-specific and do not warrant additional investigation.
Methodology
Nephelometry
CPT Code
82103
Performing Laboratory
Immunology Lab, AD3301 706-721-2120