Antithrombin (AT) Deficiency Profile

CPT: 85300; 85301
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Test Includes

Antithrombin activity; antithrombin antigen


Special Instructions

If the patient's hematocrit exceeds 55%, the volume of citrate in the collection tube must be adjusted. Refer to Coagulation Collection Procedures for directions.


Expected Turnaround Time

2 - 3 days



Related Documents

For more information, please view the literature below.

Procedures for Hemostasis and Thrombosis: A Clinical Test Compendium


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Plasma, frozen


Volume

1 mL


Container

Blue-top (sodium citrate) tube


Collection

Citrated plasma samples should be collected by double centrifugation. 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 using a winged blood collection device (ie, "butterfly"), in which case a discard tube should be used.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 alternate 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. Centrifuge for 10 minutes and carefully remove 2/3 of the plasma using a plastic transfer pipette, being careful not to disturb the cells. Deliver to a plastic transport tube, cap, and recentrifuge for 10 minutes. Use a second plastic pipette to remove the plasma, staying clear of the platelets at the bottom of the tube. Transfer the plasma into a Labcorp PP transpak frozen purple tube with screw cap (Labcorp No. 49482). Freeze immediately and maintain frozen until tested.

Please print and use the Volume Guide for Coagulation Testing to ensure proper draw volume.


Storage Instructions

Freeze.


Patient Preparation

Do not draw from an arm with a heparin lock or heparinized catheter. Ideally patients should not be on unfractionated heparin or direct Xa inhibitor therapy.


Causes for Rejection

Severe hemolysis; improper labeling; clotted specimen; specimen diluted with IV fluids; samples thawed in transit; improper sample type; sample out of stability


Test Details


Use

Confirmation and characterization of congenital AT deficiency


Limitations

AT testing should not be performed on patients on heparin therapy because heparin decreases plasma AT levels.6,7 AT results for individuals on warfarin therapy should be interpreted with caution because warfarin can increase levels of AT of patients with heterozygous deficiency into the normal range.7 Thrombin inhibitors, such as dabigatran, hirudin, and argatroban, interfere with the AT activity assay when it is based on thrombin inhibition. Direct Xa anticoagulant will interfere with the assay when it is based on inhibition of Xa causing it to be falsely, elevated possibly masking a deficiency.6


Methodology

AT antigen: Automated (LIATEST) enzyme immunoassay (EIA)

AT activity: The patient plasma is mixed with heparin and thrombin. The extent of thrombin inhibition is proportional to the AT concentration of the patient sample. Residual thrombin activity is measured as the rate of conversion of a chromogenic substrate and is used to calculate AT concentration.


Reference Interval

In newborns, AT levels are lower than in adults (39% to 89%). Levels gradually reach adult ranges by six months of age.6


Additional Information

Antithrombin (AT), often referred to as antithrombin III, is a glycoprotein produced in the liver.7-9 AT is a serine protease inhibitor, or SERPIN, that irreversibly inhibits several of the enzymes involved in hemostasis. In this way, AT serves an important role in controlling coagulation by limiting the extent of thrombus formation. AT inhibits several steps of the coagulation cascade by binding to the catalytic sites of thrombin (factor IIa) and factors IXa, Xa, XIa, and XIIa. The complexes of AT with these thrombogenic serine proteinases are then rapidly cleared from the plasma. The binding of AT to these coagulation factors is slow in the absence of heparin. Heparin sulfate from endothelial cells or exogenously administered heparin binds to a specific site on the AT molecule. This produces a conformational change in the structure of AT, enhancing its binding to the activated coagulation factors by 1000-fold.8 Congenital defects in both the heparin binding site and the proteinase binding site of AT can cause functional deficiencies in AT activity.

Congenital AT deficiency: Congenital AT deficiency has been estimated to occur in approximately 3 out of 1000 individuals.8 Heterozygous AT deficiency is responsible for approximately 4% of families with inherited thrombophilia.7 Approximately 1% of cases of initial episodes of venous thrombosis are associated with congenital AT deficiency.7 Approximately 85% of individuals with congenital AT deficiency will experience at least one thrombotic episode by age 55 and recurrent thrombotic events are common.8,9 Initial thrombotic events frequently occur between 20 and 30 years of age.8 Thrombosis can sometimes occur at unusual sites such as the mesenteric and axillary veins. In the majority of cases, thrombosis can be linked to trauma, surgery, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, or other risk factors; however, thrombosis occurs spontaneously with no precipitating events or other known risk factors in about 33% of cases.8

Congenital AT deficiency can be classified as either type I or type II.7-9 Type I deficiency results from a quantitative reduction in AT production, leading to a simultaneous decrease of both the functional and antigenic levels of AT. In type II deficiency, AT antigen concentration is normal but its activity is diminished because a fraction of the AT is dysfunctional due to genetic defect. This is reflected by a diminished AT activity in the context of normal AT antigen levels. Type II deficiency is more common than type I.

Acquired AT deficiency: Acquired AT deficiency is more common than congenital deficiency.7-9 AT levels can be diminished in women receiving oral contraception or estrogen replacement therapy.7 Levels can also be diminished during pregnancy. Oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin will lower AT levels. AT levels are usually diminished in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and sepsis. AT levels can be transiently diminished after a thrombotic event or surgery. AT deficiency can be found in patients with severe hepatic disorders (hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc) due to diminished synthesis and nephrotic syndrome due to urinary protein loss. Malignancy and inflammatory bowel disease can also produce diminished AT levels.9 Drug therapy with L-asparaginase or fluorouracil can also reduce AT levels.


Footnotes

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; 107(1):105-110. 8980376
2. Reneke J, Etzell J, Leslie S, et al. 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; 109(6):754-757. 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, Pa: 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; 107(6):681-683.9169665
5. McGlasson DL, More L, Best HA, et al. Drawing specimens for coagulation testing: Is a second tube necessary? Clin Lab Sci. 1999; 12(3):137-139. 10539100
6. 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.
7. Zwicker J, Bauer KA. Thrombophilia. In Kitchens CS, Alving BM, Kessler CM, eds. Consultative Hemostasis and Thrombosis. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 2002:181-196.
8. Adcock DM, Bethel MA, Macy PA. Coagulation Handbook. Aurora, Colo: Esoterix−Colorado Coagulation; 2006.
9. Triplett DA, Thrombophilia. In: McClatchey KD, ed. Clinical Laboratory Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2002:1050-1056.

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
015594 Antithrombin III, Func/Immunol 015040 Antithrombin Activity % 27811-9
015594 Antithrombin III, Func/Immunol 015057 Antithrombin Antigen % 27812-7

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