FIBRINOGEN LEVEL

General Information

Performed: 24 hrs.

Turn Around Time: Med Emerg: 60 minutes; Routine: 4 hrs

CPT Codes: 85384

Performed By: Hematology

Notes:

When Hematocrit is >55%, original results that are abnormal must be corrected on patients greater than 4 months of age.

May be tested from same tube as PTT, however, follow PTT stricter collection and delivery guidelines.

Test also performed by the Rapid Response Lab.

Clinical Utility: Useful for detecting increased or decreased fibrinogen (Factor I) of acquired or congenital origin. Useful in monitoring severity and treatment of fibrinolysis and DIC (especially when combined with platelet count, D-Dimer, PT, and PTT). Therapy with direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g. hirudin and argatroban) may result in falsely low fibrinogen levels.

Unacceptable Conditions:

Clotted, severely hemolyzed, refrigerated, and/or on ice. Heparin (UFH) and IV fluids will decrease results. Specimens should not be drawn with heparinized syringe, through lines containing heparin/fluid, or during procedures using heparin (such as dialysis or apheresis). Collection through PICC lines and medi-ports are generally unacceptable due to insufficient flush and discard. If VAD collection is necessary, flush with 5mL of saline and then discard 6 times the volume of the line measured from collection port to catheter tip.

Fibrinogen results on the ACL TOP are not affected by heparin up to 2.0 U/mL, hemoglobin up to 375 mg/dL, bilirubin up to 23 mg/dL and triglycerides up to 880 mg/dL.

Components

Specimen Requirements