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Test Code DIC Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Panel

Important Note

*Both plasma and whole blood specimens are required*

  • Specimens must arrive within 1 hour of draw.
  • Testing to be completed within 4 hours of draw. 
  • See individual tests for test-specific specimen requirements if necessary.

Methodology

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), also known as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy or less commonly as consumptive coagulopathy, is a pathological activation of coagulation (blood clotting) mechanisms that happens in response to a variety of diseases. DIC leads to the formation of small blood clots inside the blood vessels throughout the body.

 

DIC is detected by using a panel made up of a group of tests including Prothrombin Time (PT),  Activated Partial Thromoplastin Time (APTT), Fibrinogen, D-Dimer, and Platelet Count.  As a result, there are various metholologies.  The PT, APTT, and Fibrinogen are Fibrin Formation methologies using Mechanical Clot Detection.  D-Dimer is an Immunoturbidimetric test and a Platelet Count is done by Flow Cytometry. 

 

 

Profile Information:

PT (Protime)
APTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) , PTT
Fibrinogen
D-Dimer
Platelet Count

 

 

Specimen Requirements

 

*Both plasma and whole blood specimens are required*

 

Plasma

Container/Tube: Light blue-top (3.2% buffered sodium citrate, with yellow-striped label) tube

Specimen Volume: Full tube

Collection Instructions:

  1. Tube must be filled to capacity
  2. Ratio of blood to anticoagulatn is critical for valid coagulation results.
  3. Send whole blood in original tube.
  4. If patient is heparinized, tube must be spun down within 1 hour of draw.
  5. If specimen will arrive at Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory >1 hour after draw, process specimen as follows:
  •     Spin for 10 minutes at 3,500 rpm (1,500g).
  •     Remove plasma from cells and place in a clean, plastic vial.

Specimen Rejection:

  • Hemolyzed specimen is not acceptable.

 

Whole Blood

Container/Tube: Lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s) with HemogardTM lid or lavender MICTROTAINER®

Specimen Volume: 3mL (minimum volume: 1mL/pediatric: 0.5mL) of whole blood

Collection Instructions:

  1. Invert tube(s) several times to mix blood. 
  2. Do not centrifuge.
  3. Forward promptly in original tube(s).

 

Specimen Rejection:

  • Clotted or hemolyzed specimen is not acceptable.
  • Do Not Centrifuge.

 

 

Specimen Retention Time

Plasma

4 hours

 

Whole Blood

48 hours

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday though Sunday

Maximum Laboratory Time

4 hours

Specimen Stability

Plasma

 

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma (Whole Blood) Ambient < 1 hour
  Refrigerate 1 to 4 hours
     

 

Whole Blood

 

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Blood Ambient < 8 hours
  Refrigerate < 48 hours
     

Reference Values

PT

11.8-14.0 seconds

 

INR

2.0-3.5

Critical value (automatic call-back): >5.0

 

APTT

<3 months: 25-50 seconds

3 months-15 years: 25-37 seconds

≥16 years: 25-35 seconds

Critical value (automatic call-back): >90 seconds

 

D-Dimer

<500 ng/mL FEU

 

Fibrinogen

225-441 mg/dL

Critical value (automatic call-back): ≤59 mg/dL

 

Platelet Count

<7 days: 14-290 k/mm3

7 days-4 years: 130-470 k/mm3

≥5 years: 130-400 k/mm3

Critical value (automatic call-back): <30 k/mm3

 

 

 

Test Classification and CPT Coding

85610

85730

85379

85384

85049