HERMANN TEST CODE: 26-00480
CPT CODE: 85385
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT: 5 mL blood (minimum 4.5 ml), blue top tube (sodium citrate), mixed well.
TEST AVAILABILITY: Performed by Coagulation Section in Hermann Laboratory, Mon-Thurs, 7 AM-3 PM. Reporting time in 36 hours. Specimen must be in the laboratory by 10 AM to be performed on the same day
METHODOLOGY: Radial Immunodiffusion (RID)
CLINICAL UTILIZATION: Diagnosis of Dysfibrinogenemia
REFERENCE RANGE: 200-400 mg/ dL
INTERPRETATION:
Abnormalities of fibrinogen production may be congenital or acquired and, in general, involve either decreased production of a normal molecule (afibrinogenemia, hypofibrinogenemia) or production of an abnormal molecule (dysfibrinogenemia). Congenital abnormalities of fibrinogen production are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Acquired abnormalities may be observed in a variety of clinical conditions such as liver diseases, consumptive coagulation disorders.
Fibrinogen antigen assay is only needed to confirm dysfibrinogenemia. The fibrinogen functional assay (the routine fibrinogen assay in the coagulation laboratory) should be performed first. A normal functional level would exclude any fibrinogen abnormalities. Only an abnormal functional level may require further testing with fibrinogen antigen assay. In such case, a low antigen level would be consistent with afibrinogenemia or hypofibrinogenemia, and a normal antigen level would be consistent with dysfibrinogenemia.
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